Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
The residents of Waluj Grampanchayat will now not have to run helter-skelter to fetch potful of drinking water as the construction of an overhead water tank of 7 lakh litres capacity is likely to start functioning in the new year.
The present population of Waluj is 50,000. The grampanchayat supply’s water through MIDC and by acquiring public wells. However, the local-self body had to face severe hardship in maintaining the water supply due to absence of the ESR. Presently, the supply of water is made on a gap of eight days. Adding to the woes, the water supply gets paralysed if there is disruption in power supply or any kind of technical snag occurs on the day of water supply. Hence the office-bearers of the grampanchayat had to face public anger. Hence the sarpanch Saeedabi Pathan, deputy sarpanch Yogesh Aargade, village development officer (VDO) Uttam Bhondwe and the members decided upon building a new overhead water tank. Earlier, the proposal was set aside due to the eruption of differences between police administration and Waluj grampanchayat. Later on, the ownership issue got resolved and the work got started.
The estimated value of the project is Rs 80 lakh and the funds were raised from the 15th finance commission and grampanchayat fund. The construction of the tank has been done 60 per cent. The ESRs will quench the thirst of the residents staying in the old village and the upcoming surrounding areas. The supply will be in an adequate quantity, said the sarpanch Saeedabi Pathan.