NAGPUR: Over 50,000 consumers can hope for better water supply and services from Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s water supply department in the coming days. Thanks to the state government which has approved the proposal for formation of a separate company -- Nagpur Environmental Services Limited (NECL) for maintenance of water distribution network and water supply. Municipal commissioner Aseem Gupta said, “The present water works department will be merged with NECL which henceforth will look after the entire work related to water supply, maintenance, operations and recovery”.

He said that the new company will hold board meeting every month to take decisions regarding water supply management. However, water rates and other policy matters will be decided by civic house, he said. Gupta said, “the newly formed NECL will have mayor as the chairman, while deputy mayor, standing committee chairman and other office bearers will be its members.

The company will have 11board of directors and municipal commissioner will be its deputy chairman and executive engineer of water works department will be the managing director.” Gupta said, “The company will further look after the maintenance of storm water drainage network and other environment-related work”.

NECL will henceforth look after the entire functioning of NMC’s ambitious round-theclock water supply project sanctioned under the Jawharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). The Rs 21-crore five-year pilot project for distribution of water, bill collection, operation and maintenance works has been awarded to Veolia Water (India) Pvt Ltd.