PCMC gets meters but not enough water

PCMC executive engineer Sharad Jadhav said the civic administration has in last five years successfully installed as many as 1.27 lakh water meters across the town. “We had a budget of Rs 40 crore. All these water meters were installed by PCMC,but henceforth residents will have to install them at their own cost,” said Jadhav.

Lately,the PCMC decided to supply water only once a day to nearly 10 lakh residents living in the jurisdiction of its “B” and “D” divisional offices. The step,aimed at ensuring “equitable distribution” of water to all areas,was initiated following complaints of water shortage from areas like Thergaon,Kalewadi,Mamurdi and Sangvi.

“Certain areas get water for six hours a day,while some get it for four hours a day. There is inequality in distribution of water. The latest decision to make water available only once a day in several suburbs shows how water meter system has brought no relief. In some areas,PCMC has to provide water through tankers,” said Manav Kamble of Nagrik Suraksha Samiti. Civic officials said tanker water is made available on demand.

Even meters have created problems for many. Some families got inflated water bills. There were hundreds of complaints,protests and morchas. “Initially,there were complaints but those were sorted out. We found that some residents had past arrears while some had used huge quantity of water,” said executive engineer R S Sonawane.

As many as 3,000 water meters have reportedly been stolen. “If the meter is not cleaned every two-three months,it stops working. The meter works less and fails more,” said Anita Landge,a resident of Kasarwadi. PCMC officials said meters are “very sensitive” and needed proper maintenance. “Nearly 2,000 such meters were repaired after they stopped working. The contractors are doing the job for free,” said Sonawane.

However,some residents feel that water meters were needed. “Water is a scarce commodity. If we don’t use it judiciously,we will suffer. So I am all for water meters even if there is inadequate water supply,” said Sathyanarayan Iyer of Pradhikaran.

City too gets ready to install water meters

The decision of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to install water meters in the city is likely to get a nod from elected representatives as they have apparently agreed for the same.

“Corporators were opposing installation of water meters in the city but most of their concerns have been addressed by the civic administration. We hope to get the proposal approved,” said NCP leader Subhash Jagtap.

The civic administration has been insisting on implementation of the meter project in PMC areas,he said. “Leaders and office bearers along with civic officials recently visited Malkapur Municipal Council in Karad taluk where water meters are installed.” The agency that has been given the contract for execution of the project in PMC has carried out the work in Malkapur,so all the queries raised by leaders were addressed,Jagtap said.

However,parties are concerned about the expenses of installing water meters. “A meter costs a few thousand rupees and it would be improper to charge people for this,” said Shiv Sena leader Ashok Harnaval. He said the PMC should not put the burden of installing meters on citizens and should come up with some solution.

Though convinced,leaders while giving their consent are going to make it conditional. “There are various doubts over its effective implementation. Thus,the PMC should take up a pilot project before goimg ahead with the full drive across the city,” a Congress leader said. This will help the administration to prove its point and put up a case before citizens,he said,adding that the civic body will have to commit to the citizens on a 24X7 water supply while installing water meters.

Meanwhile,the civic administration has started work on equitable distribution of water. “The civic administration,as per the commitment to Centre,has to carry out metering of water supply. This was a condition for all the local civic bodies benefiting under JNNURM,” a civic official said.

The city has unequal distribution of water with a high leakage percentage,he said,”The priority would be to first achieve equitable and sufficient water supply for which we have divided the city in small blocks.”