Pune’s 24x7 water supply project moving at a snail’s pace, alleges opposition

Administration did not comment on the allegations posed by the opposition parties questions, but accepted that the progress in the project has been slow

It has been more than a year since the 24x7 water supply scheme got the final go ahead from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in February 2018, however, on ground it has progressed very slowly, alleged opposition parties.

The project has always been mired in controversy as tenders for the project were scrapped four times since they were higher than the estimated cost. (Image used for representational purpose only) (HT/PHOTO)

Ninety per cent of the PMC’s Rs 2,055 crore water supply project work order was alloted to L&T while the remaining work order went to the Jain irrigation company.

Administration did not comment on the allegations posed by the opposition parties questions, but accepted that the progress in the project has been slow. The work of water tanks is already in progress. The water pipeline laying work has been going on in Baner and at least 15 per cent of the project work has been completed, claimed the civic administration.

The project has suffered a delay as the civic body was expecting to finish 150 kms of pipeline by now, but only 20 kms of pipelines has been laid so far, claimed opposition parties.

The project has always been mired in controversy as tenders for the project were scrapped four times since they were higher than the estimated cost. The, then, standing committee chairman Murlidhar Mohol had said, “Earlier the project’s estimate cost was Rs 2,600 crore and the tenders were above 26 per cent, which inflated the project cost to Rs 3,100 crore. After opposition from various political parties, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis intervened in the matter and ordered the scrapping of the process. He asked for a re-tendering of the project. As per the chief minister’s instruction, PMC carried out the process and the project cost came down to Rs 2,055 crore which is almost 1,100 crore less than the estimate.”

Chetan Tupe, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) city unit president, said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took the credit for the project, but there has been no progress since the past one year. “The work of water tanks are currently going on in the city, which was started during NCP’s rule. No new work has started in this project despite getting the approval,” Tupe said.

As per the project, PMC planned to lay almost 1,800 kms of new water pipelines in the city.

Highlights of the project

Work on the 24x7 water supply scheme project was initially scheduled to begin in February 2018. However, the project got delayed.

Initially, PMC was to execute the project in five pilot areas, however, the project will now be applicable across the city. The work has already begun in Baner, the first phase of the project.

Slums will not have water metres, but they would have to pay ₹1 charge per day.

Contractors have to conduct operations and maintenance for the next 15 years.

20 per cent of the contractors’ fees would be withheld by PMC as a guarantee for maintenance.

Main objectives of the project

Safe and equitable water supply to all citizens for the next 30 years.

Distribution of water 24 hours a day.

Reduce the amounts of water losses and non-revenue water supply.

Stop distribution losses and leakages