Illegal connections, leaky pipes lead to shortage

Even Though all the four dams in the city have adequate water, certain areas continue to receive irregular supply

Illegal connections, leaky pipes lead to shortage

Even Though all the four dams in the city have adequate water, certain areas continue to receive irregular supply

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has spent Rs 110 crore in the last one year to ensure the city is self-sufficient in water.

Yet, it has been unable to address the problem of irregular water supply in various parts of the city.

Even though all the four dams Khadakwasla, Parasgaon, Panchet and Temghar have an adequate supply of water ufffd 13.41 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) ufffd many areas in the city and its suburbs have been getting sporadic supply of water for the last six months.

The irrigation department supplies 950 million litres of water every day to the city. "The city's requirement is 1,100 million litres per day. But it will now go up to 1,300 million litres every day," said Pramod Nirbhavane, development engineer, water supply.u00a0

Of the reasons cited is its inability to crackdown on illegal water connections, and by its own admittance leakage.

The PMC Commissioner Mahesh Zagade earlier confessed that owing to pipe leakage, over 20 per cent of the water was going waste.

Zagade had also appointed a fact-finding committee three months ago to probe into the matter. In the last five years, the PMC has spent Rs 1,400 crore on water supply and yet, the city has an acute shortage of water.

Over 50 municipal corporators had come down heavily on the water supply department during the general body meeting on February 24 for the inadequate and interrupted water supply at many areas in the city.

Ashok Kadam, senior citizen, Shastri Nagar, Kothrud, said, "In our area we have at least 20 illegal connections. So, my complex and the surrounding buildings get irregular water supply."

MID DAY checks a few affected areas:

Aundh
The area where many middle- and upper-middle-class people are staying has become one of the most developed suburban area in the city.
Population: 3.5 lakh
Water supply was much better till last September, but the situation gradually deteriorated. Some residents get enough water and many get water supply only for two or three hours a day. The area has good gardens and swimming pools.

Sinhagad Rd
Irregular water supply is the prime concern for the residents in many parts of this area. Many residents had dug up bore wells and get treated water from the PMC's Wadgaon Budruk water reservoir only.
Population:u00a0 6.8 lakh

Baner
Rich industrialists and retired government officials stay in the locality. Good hotels and small industrial houses and posh residential housing societies dot the area.

Some areas near Parihar Chowk have been facing irregular water supply for the past four months.
Population: 3.2 lakh

Kondhwa
Many housing societies in the area get less water from the PMC and also use bore water. Residents are using mixed water 30 per cent is from the PMC and 70 per cent is ground water.
Population: 3.3 lakh

Shaniwar Peth
This is a low-lying dense area in the old city. Some people are getting 24 hours of water and others intermittent water supply.
Population: 3 lakh
PMC says Sunil Kesri, ward officer, Vishrambaug, said, "Though water supply does not come under the purview of any ward office, we receive sizable number of complaints every day which is conveyed to the newly created three zonal officers."

Pramod Nirbhawane, development engineer, water supply, said that equal distribution of water was still a major issue.
"We have enough stock of water and there will not be water cut only because of unavailability till July end. It is true that people staying on the hilly areas like Katraj, Handewadi, Ambegaon, are not getting adequate water supply. There is 20 per cent water leakage in the city. Water audit can be possible only if a water meter system is enforced. The decision is still pending with the PMC. The total project cost for water meters is Rs 375.83 crore.We are planning 24x7 water supply plan in all parts of the city after the survey is over."
So far 32,000 water connections have been identified in Kothrud, Warje, Paud Road and Karve Road. Over 23 per cent of the connections are illegal, an official on condition of anonymity said.

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