The Times of India 02.03.2013
Ashi Nagar zone has 11k illegal water connections
NAGPUR: Though Nagpur
Municipal Corporation's water works department (WWD) has launched an
intense campaign to recover dues from water tax defaulters, it has
failed to crack down on illegal water connections. Some zones where the
illegal water connections match the legal ones seem to have skipped the officials' notice altogether.
A case in point is Ashi Nagar zone in north Nagpur. As against 15,917 legal connections, the zone has over 11,000 illegal ones, admitted deputy engineer (WWD) of Ashi Nagar zone Asaram Bodile in a RTI query to activist Abhay Kolarkar. As many as 5,157 of the legal connection holders had defaulted on regular water bills. But for reasons not clear, WWD only snapped the supply of 186 consumers. In 2012, the approximate water supply to the zone was 360 million litres. Of this, the zone reported a wastage of 54 million litres due to leakages.
Independent corporator Savita Sangole said leakages were not repaired in Ashi Nagar zone for days together. "Large amount of potable water flows onto the streets - at many places between Teka Naka and Nari Road - and ends up in drains causing severe shortage in many colonies," she said. Residents alleged that the WWD had failed to monitor the work of private operator.
Areas where tap water is not available include Sahyog Nagar, Shende Nagar, Manav Nagar, Sanyal Nagar, Dixit Nagar, Kabir Nagar, Samarth Nagar, half of Sugat Nagar, KG Society, Maitri Colony, Nari, Rajgruha Nagar, Babadeep Singh Nagar, Takshashila Nagar, half of Ramai Nagar, Subodh Colony, Mayur Nagar.
Last year, NMC spent almost Rs 5.22 crore for supplying water through 81 tankers. It raises a question mark over civic body's commitment to effectively manage water supply machinery. Sangole also pointed out that NMC could minimize the expenditure incurred on supplying water through tankers. Laying of pipelines in most residential areas was done a decade ago. At many places, WWD started laying pipelines but still water was yet to reach homes, she said.
Aziz-ur-Rehman, officiating executive engineer (WWD) admitted that due to negligent attitude of his department the number of illegal connection in the zone has increased manifold. According to him, plumbers also played a major role to get illegal connections for residents. He pointed out that number of illegal connection has come to fore when the department has carried out a survey. Now, the department is motivating people to convert their illegal connections to legal one, he added.
A case in point is Ashi Nagar zone in north Nagpur. As against 15,917 legal connections, the zone has over 11,000 illegal ones, admitted deputy engineer (WWD) of Ashi Nagar zone Asaram Bodile in a RTI query to activist Abhay Kolarkar. As many as 5,157 of the legal connection holders had defaulted on regular water bills. But for reasons not clear, WWD only snapped the supply of 186 consumers. In 2012, the approximate water supply to the zone was 360 million litres. Of this, the zone reported a wastage of 54 million litres due to leakages.
Independent corporator Savita Sangole said leakages were not repaired in Ashi Nagar zone for days together. "Large amount of potable water flows onto the streets - at many places between Teka Naka and Nari Road - and ends up in drains causing severe shortage in many colonies," she said. Residents alleged that the WWD had failed to monitor the work of private operator.
Areas where tap water is not available include Sahyog Nagar, Shende Nagar, Manav Nagar, Sanyal Nagar, Dixit Nagar, Kabir Nagar, Samarth Nagar, half of Sugat Nagar, KG Society, Maitri Colony, Nari, Rajgruha Nagar, Babadeep Singh Nagar, Takshashila Nagar, half of Ramai Nagar, Subodh Colony, Mayur Nagar.
Last year, NMC spent almost Rs 5.22 crore for supplying water through 81 tankers. It raises a question mark over civic body's commitment to effectively manage water supply machinery. Sangole also pointed out that NMC could minimize the expenditure incurred on supplying water through tankers. Laying of pipelines in most residential areas was done a decade ago. At many places, WWD started laying pipelines but still water was yet to reach homes, she said.
Aziz-ur-Rehman, officiating executive engineer (WWD) admitted that due to negligent attitude of his department the number of illegal connection in the zone has increased manifold. According to him, plumbers also played a major role to get illegal connections for residents. He pointed out that number of illegal connection has come to fore when the department has carried out a survey. Now, the department is motivating people to convert their illegal connections to legal one, he added.
