NAGPUR, Aug 4: Civic bodies and government departments should explore possibilities of taking up water supply schemes on a deferred payment basis, suggested Guardian Minister Nitin Gadkari.He was addressing the inaugural session of a workshop on `Pipes, valves and fittings for water supply systems', organised by the local branch of Indian Water Works Association.The minister said that under a deferred payment system, private sector companies could be motivated to invest in water supply and distribution schemes while municipal bodies could repay the amount in instalments. He pointed out that such a system had already been introduced in the construction of roads and bridges. As many companies wanted to invest in infrastructural development, some of them could be motivated to invest in water supply and distribution schemes, he felt.Gadkari said he had discussed the matter with representatives of some leading private sector companies. While one of the companies had agreed to invest in the Nagpur water distribution project, another was prepared to replace streetlights with high mast sodium vapour lamps, which have a longer life.The minister said that municipal bodies had failed to maintain the water supply and distribution system ``They can neither provide sufficient potable water nor can they recover water taxes in time.''
