Indian Express 18.01.2010
24×7 water supply plan finally sinks
PCMC will soon lift 450 MLD water from Pavana dam, says civic chief
PCMC: Civic administration now aims for ‘equitable’ distribution, 2 hours each in morning & evening
For five years now, around 15 lakh residents of the twin industrial township of Pimpri-Chinchwad had been promised round-the-clock water supply. It has not happened and there is no possibility even as the civic administration has changed its tune — the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation is now talking of ensuring “equitable” distribution of water to the entire town. And that too, for two hours each in the morning and evening.
“We are working on our plan. The supply will be at full pressure so that citizens get their full quota of water for the day in those two hours,” said joint city engineer (water supply) Pravin Tupe.
Additional city engineer Ambadas Chavan said the administration was committed to ensuring equitable distribution of water. “The entire town will soon get proper water supply. The problem of some areas getting 15 minutes of water while others get it for an hour will be resolved soon.”
It was during Dilip Band’s tenure as municipal commissioner (2003-2008) that the civic administration was consistently promising round-the-clock water. Whether it was at civic meetings or public functions, civic officials — including Band — were right upfront in promising 24X7 water supply. After Band was transferred, the administration had, for sometime, maintained that it would keep the promise once all water meters are installed. But now, it has become clear that there would be no 24-hour water supply.
Municipal Commissioner Asheesh Sharma is more forthright. “Providing 24 hours of water is a tall order,” he told this paper on Sunday.
“I am not saying it will happen... But one thing is sure; since we are improving our water metering system, increasing storage capacity, taking steps to stop wastage of water and effectively implementing the new supervisory control system, we expect to soon provide equitable distribution of water. This is what my predecessor also wanted to do.”
Sharma said once the fourth phase of water works is completed, the PCMC would be able to treat an additional 100 MLD of water.
“As of now, we lift 350 MLD water from Pavana dam. Around 300 MLD is treated and supplied to the town. Once the new treatment plant is completed, another 100 MLD will be treated and supplied to the town. It means we will lift 450 MLD from the Pavana dam in future.”
The civic chief said as many as 24 elevated service reservoirs (ESRs) — water tanks located at a high level — will be set up. “The ESRs will help us in increasing our storage capacity. They will be ready in a few months.”
The water meter system, said Sharma, would put an end to excessive use of water. Pravin Tupe said 1,10,000 water meters have been installed so far. “Another 5,000 would be installed soon,” Tupe said.
The PCMC has entrusted the task of installing and maintaining the water meters to a private firm.
However, Congress corporator Babu Nair said the water meters were already creating problems. “For instance, in Pimpri’s MHADA colony, one family received a bill of Rs 10,000.
The same family was getting an annual bill of Rs 1,200 for years. The residents are against such a system, which drills a big hole in their pockets.”
The PCMC is also banking on its 50-km closed pipeline scheme from Pavana dam to ensure equitable distribution of water. “Despite hurdles, the work on this scheme is progressing,” Chavan said.
Civic nod could be mandatory for constructions in 77 villages
Following a state govenment notification, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation will soon make it mandatory for those residing in the 77 villages falling within 10 km of its jurisdiction to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the fire brigade for constructions. Also, the builders will have to pay double charges for the NOC than what is levied in the existing limits. A proposal in this regard will be tabled in the standing committee meeting on Tuesday.
A government notification in August had stipulated that Pune’s development control rules would apply to areas within 10 km of the civic body limits. The Urban Development Ministry took the decision after noting that the fringe areas of the city limits were developing haphazardly as there was no actual planning involved. According to K B Gawde, chief fire officer, PCMC, there has been a rapid increase in the population of Pimpri-Chinchwad in the past few years and also in the scope and work of the department. The town planning department had mooted changes in the existing rules to provide better service to citizens.
Civic officials said they were facing problems in providing facilities to these newly-merged villages owing to illegal constructions and the haphazard manner of development. The proposal to make NOC compulsory for constructions in these villages came up during their meeting with officials of the urban development department. The builders will be charged according to the height of the structure and use — commercial or residential. They will be allowed to construct structures up to a height of 45 metres in these areas.
“We will be providing facilities and infrastructure to all these villages, and hence the move to charge double the rate from developers for the NOC is justified,” they added.civic nod.
