Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
The High Court has expressed hope that additional water supply will be made available in the city on May 1, coinciding with Maharashtra Day. Municipal Commissioner Amol Yedge said that plans are underway to utilise five new elevated storage reservoirs (ESRs) to improve supply, and it is expected that residents in these areas will receive water.
Testing of the 2,500 mm diameter water pipeline is currently underway. On Monday, water was pumped from the Nakshatrawadi water treatment plant (WTP) up to a distance of about 2 km. Pumping was stopped after 7 pm. On Tuesday morning, pumping resumed at 7 am, with efforts continuing to bring water to the treatment plant by around 10 am. After water reaches Nakshatrawadi, testing of the treatment plant will be carried out. This entire process is expected to take around eight days. After that, the plan is to begin supplying water to the city by May 1.
The municipal commissioner said that distributing an additional 200 MLD of water all at once will not be possible. The Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran (MJP) has constructed five new ESRs. It is expected that colonies in the command areas of these reservoirs will receive water supply from Maharashtra Day onwards. As these reservoirs are gradually handed over to the municipal corporation, the coverage of water supply will be expanded, he said.
Ultrasonic test of pipeline
On the issue of hydraulic testing of the pipeline, the civic chief said that an ultrasonic test has been conducted, along with a radiation test. The contractor claims that both tests are equivalent to hydraulic testing.
Five new reservoirs?
The five ESRs are located at Shivaji Ground, TV Centre, Himayat Baugh, Delhi Gate, and Pratapnagar. Localities in these areas are likely to receive water from the new scheme starting from Maharashtra Day.