PMC will need 4,500 tankers to supply water to 23 merged villages

0

Pune :  Policenama online  – Officials from the Water Supply Department of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) said around 4,500 tankers will be needed to provide water to the merged villages as per the directive issued by the Bombay High Court yesterday. The civic body will have to spend Rs 58 lakh daily and Rs 200 crore per year for the same.

 

Meanwhile, a plan is being prepared to supply water to the merged villages as per the HC order. The PMC will file a detailed affidavit in this regard to bring to the court’s notice the reality of the issue. This was revealed by Water Supply Department Superintending Engineer Aniruddha Pawaskar.

 

The HC has ordered the supply of water by tankers to the 23 villages till a proper system is established. Former corporator Dilip Vede Patil has filed a PIL in this regard seeking to fix responsibility of supplying water with either the PMC or the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA).

 

In the backdrop of the directive, civic officials held a meeting in the PMC. The population of these villages is around eight lakh. If 55 litre per head water is supplied, then 4,500 water tankers will be needed. The civic officials do not know how much water is being supplied through the existing water supply systems in these villages. Only after knowing this, they would be able to plan and make a schedule of water supply to these villages. This issue was discussed in the meeting, said an official.

 

Earlier, the gram panchayats GPS) were providing water in the earlier 11 and later 23 merged villages. These villages are within the periphery of five kilometers of Pune. The PMC was providing bulk water supply to these GPs. Water tanks were built by the GPs and the state government. At some places, plastic tanks were installed. Water is currently supplied from these tanks through a system developed by the GPs. In some villages, the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran has set up water supply systems. Following the establishment of PMRDA, building permission is given by the PMRDA. Earlier, the GPs were issuing building permissions.

 

The PMRDA has taken affidavits from the builders implementing housing projects in these villages that it would be their responsibility to provide water to their customers. Building permissions are given on this basis. The city is expanding and there is a need for residential units. Hence, land in these villages has been developed to build housing projects. Private tankers are supplying water to these projects in a big way. It is not possible to build a water supply system in each of these villages immediately. Hence, the PMC will have to set up a temporary system to supply water to these villages following the HC order.

 

While the PMRDA is issuing building permissions, the PMC has been directed by the state government to provide civic amenities such as water, solid waste management, health, etc. The civic body has been demanding Rs 300 crore revenue collected by the PMRDA through building permissions to set up civic amenities in these villages. The PMC will mention this in the affidavit to be filed before the HC, said senior civic officials.

Join our Telegramfacebook page and Twitter for every update

 

You might also like
Leave a comment