PUNE: The PMC has received clearance from the forest department to allot four plots for the construction of overhead tanks under a 24x7 water supply project.
The proposal to allot the spaces was pending for long. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had appointed dedicated officers to expedite the clearances from the forest department.
A total of 83 overhead tanks will come up across the city to streamline water distribution. Out of these, 40 tanks are ready, while the laying of distribution lines at 10 tanks has been completed. Civic officials said the work of the remaining tanks and augmentation of distribution will now be expedited.
Aniruddha Pavaskar, the head of the PMC's water supply department, said, "We are making efforts to expedite the equitable water supply project. Most issues relating to land availability have been resolved. Our officers visited the forest department headquarters in Nagpur to fast-track the clearances. A nod will allow the administration to start the work. We will soon complete the formalities to get the plots."
A senior PMC official said they are yet to get hold of some of the private plots where the tanks have been proposed. The talks were in advanced stages and the administration will have a breakthrough soon, the official said. Though May 2023 has been set as the deadline to complete the work under the project, not even 50% of it has been done so far. According to the water supply department, distribution lines have been planned on a 1,600-km stretch, out of which pipes have been laid in 750km.
The fixing of automatic water meters, however, is on slow track with only 26% meters installed so far, as there has been an opposition from citizens. The administration has asked the former corporators to talk to the opposition side but an option is also being explored to take the help of the city police in areas with strong opposition.
An official with the water supply department said, "The administration is not imposing any charges on the installation of meters. We are also not collecting water charges as per the meter readings. The installation is part of observations for the 24x7 water supply project."
