Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
The municipal corporation is currently drawing 150 MLD of water from Jayakwadi Dam on a daily basis. An additional 20 to 30 MLD is being drawn for a new pipeline project. With the increase in water extraction, the Water Resources Department (WRD) has raised the issue of pending dues, warning that the water supply may be cut off if arrears of Rs 66.60 crore are not cleared.
In this context, a meeting between officials of the WRD and the municipal corporation was held on Thursday under the chairmanship of the mayor Rajurkar. During the meeting, the mayor instructed officials to approach chief minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking a waiver on the interest component of the water charges.
The meeting was attended by civic chief G Sreekanth, officials from the WRD, chief accounts and finance officer Santosh Wahule, and additional city engineer Anil Tanpure, among others. The municipal corporation said that the actual outstanding amount is only Rs 14.43 crore, adding that Rs 10.80 crore has been paid over the past four years. Commissioner Sreekanth remarked that the city is already facing a severe water supply situation, and any disruption would make it impossible to supply water to residents. He assured that the corporation is ready to clear the dues and requested a period of 15 days, along with renewal of the agreement.
The mayor further stated that the WRD should clarify the principal amount and the interest component of the dues. He added that a request for waiver of interest would be made to the CM. A meeting with CM Fadnavis will soon be arranged with the initiative of state minister for Bahujan Welfare Atul Save. Until then, the mayor appealed for cooperation. The WRD has agreed to grant a 15-day extension.