Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
With the beginning of March, the demand for water in the city has doubled. Efforts have now begun to operate the 900 mm diameter water pipeline, laid about one and a half years ago at a cost of ₹200 crore, at its full capacity. This is expected to increase the city’s water supply by at least 10 to 15 MLD. The additional water supply may provide some relief to citizens.
Due to delays in completing the ₹2,740 crore water supply scheme, a separate 900 mm diameter pipeline was laid about one and a half years ago from the Jayakwadi source to the Pharola water treatment plant at a cost of ₹200 crore. Although there was hardly any space along Paithan Road for laying the pipeline, it was installed in a highly winding manner around other existing pipelines. When the pipeline was commissioned, it initially supplied only 20 MLD of water, despite claims that it would deliver 70 to 75 MLD.
It later emerged as a serious concern that the Pharola water treatment plant did not have sufficient capacity to treat the increased water supply. Provision had been made to construct a separate treatment facility along with the pipeline. Although the centre was built by the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran (MJP), its capacity is only 26 MLD. At present, water is being supplied to the city through both the old and the new treatment plants at Pharola. As a result, the ₹200 crore expenditure has brought little benefit to the municipal corporation.
Increase the number of water lifting pumps
Mayor Sameer Rajurkar has directed the municipal corporation’s water supply section to start the 900 mm pipeline at full capacity. He instructed that if additional pumps are required, they should be purchased immediately. The department has been asked to draw as much water as possible from Jayakwadi, purify it at the Pharola water treatment facility according to its capacity, and supply it to the city. He also suggested that the old 700 mm diameter pipeline should be shut down in order to bring in additional water through the new pipeline.