24x7 water scheme will be completed by 2024 but PMC will not immediately begin charging as per water meters: MC

Under the 24x7 water supply scheme, the PMC had planned to erect 82 new water tanks; 1,800 km of new water pipelines

PUNE: While work on the ambitious 24x7 water supply scheme will be completed by 2024, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will not immediately start charging citizens as per the water meters, municipal commissioner Vikram Kumar assured while presenting the municipal budget for 2023-24. It was bearing in mind this scheme that the highest provision of Rs1,321 crores had been made for the water department in last year’s budget, Kumar said.

24x7 water scheme will be completed by 2024 but PMC will not immediately begin charging as per water meters. (HT FILE PHOTO)

“I had given priority to the water department and marked Rs1,321 crores for it; the main intention was completion of the 24x7 scheme. Earlier, the PMC had decided to issue municipal bonds to raise money. In the first phase, the PMC raised Rs200 crores from the share market but later decided to complete implementation of the scheme using its own funds. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, we pushed the scheme,” Kumar said while presenting this year’s budget.

“Under the 24x7 water supply scheme, the PMC had planned to erect 82 new water tanks; 1,800 km of new water pipelines; and 3.15 lakh water meters. At present, the PMC has completed work on 46 water tanks, laid 870 km of new water pipelines, and installed 1.15 lakh water meters,” the municipal commissioner informed.

“The 24x7 water supply scheme was conceived before 34 new villages got merged with the PMC but the PMC decided to involve the villages in the scheme and had already appointed a consultant for the purpose. The consultant was to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) after which the PMC would begin execution. In the first phase, the corporation began implementation of the scheme in Bavdhan, Sus and Mahalunge areas,” Kumar said.

Along with the 24x7 water supply scheme, the PMC had also planned to complete the Prime Minister Awas Yojana scheme on a priority basis, Kumar said. Work on the Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was also underway. The PMC planned to push the riverfront development project as well.