Indian Express 18.11.2010
Civic body asks cantonment board to handle water distribution
Ishfaq Naseem Tags : Pune Municipal Corporation, Khadki Cantonment Board, KCB, PMC Posted: Thu Nov 18 2010, 03:08 hrs
Pune: Irked by the illegal water connections in the cantonment area, the Pune Municipal Corporation has asked the Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB) to relieve it of the responsibility of supplying water to the civil population and defence establishments within the cantonment area. According to PMC officials, nearly 2,000 families in Khadki draw water without paying the PMC.The civic body took up the matter with the KCB after some people resisted removal of unauthorised water connections. Besides the 2,000 illegal connections, there are 3,000 metered connections and nearly 350 public standposts for water supply. The civic body has asked the KCB to take over distribution of water and wants to handle supply to the cantonment storage facilities. PMC’s additional city engineer Pramod Nirbhavane (water supply) said, “We have asked the KCB to handle water distribution. Though we started the drive against illegal water connections, we have been facing stiff resistance. The cantonment can collect the water fee and distribute the water while we can supply the water upto the water tanks.”
KCB Chief Executive Officer S V R Chandrashekhar said that since the PMC is in charge of water distribution, it shouldn’t face any problem in removing unauthorised connections. “We are ready to lend our support in this,” he said. Residents have complained of shortage due to illegal connections. “Sometimes people receive water for only half an hour,” said PB Garsund, secretary of Khadki Citizens Forum.KCB member SL Kamble said, “The water tank in the Khadki Bazaar area is old and can collapse any time. Due to this the tank is not filled to capacity which causes shortage. The water tank being constructed at Nehru Garden near Dr Ambedkar Road will be complete by next year. Till then there seems to be no solution to the water problem.” According to officials, the old water tank at Khadki Bazar has a capacity of 20 lakh litres but it can store only 9 lakh litres. The new water tank at Ambedkar Road is likely to be completed by May next year and has a storage capacity of 25 lakh litres.
