City to get 200 MLD of water through new scheme before Summer

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

During summer, city residents face severe hardship due to water scarcity. This problem, which has persisted for the past two decades, is expected to reduce to a considerable extent this summer. Under the new water supply scheme, efforts are under way to bring an additional 200 MLD of water to the city. Trial runs are expected to be completed by the end of February or in the first week of March. At present, the city receives water once every eight to ten days. After the additional supply begins, water is expected to be available at least once every one to two days.

For the past five and a half years, the municipal corporation functioned without elected representatives. As a result, there were only a handful of protests over water issues. Before 2020, every summer saw a virtual competition among corporators to stage agitations at water tanks. Now, 115 corporators have been elected. With citizens facing water shortages during summer, the administration fears protests involving corporators, their supporters and residents. Therefore, the administration has stepped up efforts to ensure that additional water is brought into the city before the onset of summer.

On the brink of summer, the responsibility of water supply has been entrusted to the newly appointed executive engineer, Vasant Bhoye. Consequently, this summer will be a real test for him.

Preparations in the final stage

Officials from the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran (MJP) and the GVPR company stated that preparations to bring 200 MLD of water up to Nakshatrawadi are in their final stages and will be completed by the end of February or the first week of March. Desilting work is under way at the Jackwell at Jayakwadi, and motors required for pumping have been installed. No major work remains for conducting water trials; only minor works are currently in progress.

Planning of three major pipelines

To bring water from Nakshatrawadi to the city, three major pipelines have been planned. The laying of a 1,500 mm diameter pipeline leading to Harsul has been completed. Work on the largest pipeline, with a diameter of 2,000 mm, leading to Ketli Garden, is expected to be completed within the next ten days. The 1,100 mm diameter pipeline leading to Jubilee Park will be delayed by about a month. Instead, it has been planned to supply water to the city through the municipal corporation’s 1,400 mm diameter pipeline by utilising the old MBR at Nakshatrawadi.

Citizens should receive water daily

The municipal commissioner G Sreekanth said, “Citizens should receive water every day. So far, residents have suffered greatly due to water scarcity. Our efforts are also focused on ensuring that citizens receive an adequate supply of water at least this summer. In the coming days, the city will start receiving water.”