Pipeline project inches forward

PUNE, June 21: The much-delayed commissioning of the 1,600-millimeter diameter pipeline between the water works at Parvati and Cantonment ap...

PUNE, June 21: The much-delayed commissioning of the 1,600-millimeter diameter pipeline between the water works at Parvati and Cantonment appears to be in sight with the Pune Municipal Corporation PMC water supply authorities currently engaged in testing of the prestressed cement concrete pipes laid across the 6.8 kilometre stretch.

Termed as the second phase of the PMC8217;s ambitious closed-pipe water supply scheme from Khadakwasla reservoir to Cantonment water works, the commissioning of the pipeline would help augment the drinking water supply to areas like Cantonment, Hadapsar, Yerawada, Vishrantwadi and Lohegoan.

When contacted, Deputy City Engineer water works S N Jawdekar said that the pipeline would soon be commissioned after being tested during the next few days for possible faults like leakages, by releasing water upto 40 per cent of its full carrying capacity of 45 thousand million cubic feet.

It may be recalled here that the PMC had planned to commission the pipeline in October 1997. The major work of laying the pipeline was completed in March 1997. The construction of a pump house for raw water and a 21-metre high break pressure water tank at the Parvati water works end took considerable time. The commissioning was further delayed for want of power connection to the pump house and a connecting water storage tank.

The piped water supply scheme was thought of many years ago since the raw water being supplied from Khadakwasla reservoir through the irrigation canals was exposed to extreme pollution owing to mushrooming of slum localities like Janata Vasahat and Dias plot along the banks.

The scheme would also help reduce water losses due to evaporation and seepage from the canals, besides, enabling the irrigation department to undertake regular closures for repairs to the Mutha right bank canal.

However, all these benefits would materialise only after completion of the first phase involving laying of a mild steel pipeline, 3000 millimetre in diameter, in the century-old baby canal stretching 11.36 kilometre from Khadakwasla to Parvati water works. The work on this phase is getting delayed and is unlikely to be completed as scheduled in December 1999.