NMC to build insulated canal to transport water from Navegaon Khairy to Kanhan
| Date :05-Jun-2019 |
Staff Reporter:
NMC drawing up to 1 MM3 water daily from dead stock of Pench irrigation project
342 tankers supplying water to non-networked areas and 150 in networked areas of the city
If necessary, NMC may think over alternate day water supply to city
Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), which is finding it difficult to maintain adequate water supply to the city with each passing day of June, has proposed to construct an insulated (covered) canal to transport water from Navegaon Khairy reservoir of Pench project to Kanhan. At present, the water flows from Navegaon Khairy reservoir to Kanhan in an open canal. There is water pilferage as villagers and farmers draw water from the canal by using motor pumps at village Dahegaon Joshi and other places along the 45 km long stretch from the reservoir to Kanhan. Besides, there are evaporation losses.
“The covered or insulated canal will prevent pilferage and also reduce evaporation losses. The entire project will cost less than Rs 100 crore,” said Vijay alias Pintu Zalke, Chairman of Water Works Committee of NMC. Zalke told reporters on Tuesday that the insulated canal would be ready in a year. Whereas, the long-term project of constructing Kanhan-Kolar barrage would not only cost Rs 500 crore but also require five years to complete, he said. At present, he added, NMC is not in a position to afford the expenditure of Rs 500 crore. “It can afford the short-term project of insulated canal. But, this does not that the long-term project stands abandoned. We will request the Central and State Governments to aid NMC in bearing the expenditure,” he added.
As far as the water supply situation at present is concerned, Zalke said that already NMC was drawing water from dead stock of Pench irrigation project. He told reporters, “There is total 150 MM3 water in dead stock of the project. NMC has sought 30 MM3 from it to quench the thirst of the city. Chief Minister has given a positive assurance in this regard and the District Collector has allocated 1.26 MM3 per day water to us from the dead stock. At present, considering the situation, NMC is drawing up to 1 MM3 water per day.” Asked about the tankers deployed in the city, Zalke replied that 342 tankers were supplying water to non-networked areas and 150 to networked areas.
Each tanker was making eight trips. Still, compared to the previous year, situation is better, said Shweta Banerjee, Executive Engineer of Water Works Department. According to her, in 2018, total 376 tankers were deployed to supply water to non-networked areas. Regarding the monitoring of tankers deployed through Orange City Water (OCW), Zalke said that those were fitted with GPS devices but monitoring was done by OCW only. “We will ask OCW to share real-time data regarding these tankers with us,” he said. To another question, Zalke said, NMC would think over alternate day water supply to city, if necessary. “A few days later, we have convened a meeting to take stock of the situation. After review, if we find it necessary, we may take appropriate decision regarding alternate day water supply to city,” said the Chairman of Water Works Committee. Shraddha Pathak, corporator, also was present during the interaction with mediapersons.
NMC launches ‘Save Water Helpline’ 8888822700
Staff Reporter:
NMC mulling over amendments to the bylaws to pave way for stringent punishment for wastage of water
As its repeated appeals have failed in curbing the misuse of water, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has now launched ‘Save Water Helpline’. If a citizen comes across water being wasted or misused anywhere in the city, he/she may dial the Helpline number 8888822700 and lodge a complaint with NMC. Besides, NMC is mulling over amendments to the bylaws regarding use of water. “Serious situation needs serious measures. Hence, we have decided to launch the Save Water Helpline number. We will integrate the helpline number with Nuisance Detection Squad’s system,” said Vijay alias Pintu Zalke, Chairman of Water Works Committee of NMC. Addressing the mediapersons, he said that there were several instances that brought to fore wastage of water in flat schemes, beer bars, construction activities getting water through tankers, illegal connections etc. There may be many more such cases but people did not know where to report.
Hence, the helpline number has been launched, he said. According to Zalke, people may send photographs also along with specifics of location where water is being wasted. Abhijit Bangar, Municipal Commissioner; Vijay alias Pintu Zalke, Chairman of Water Works Committee; and Shweta Banerjee, Executive Engineer, will personally monitor the complaints received on the helpline number. Asked about other actions taken by NMC to curb wastage of water, Zalke said that 33,000 illegal connections were identified in the city. So far, 118 such connections were severed and 812 unregistered connections were converted into registered ones. A drive is being implemented daily against use of booster pumps (popularly known as Tullu pumps) to draw extra water illegally.
Banerjee said, notices have been issued to firms executing construction of three buildings -- one in Manish Nagar and two in Satranjipura. Even for cement road construction, she said, NMC had asked the agencies working on the projects to use water from sewage treatment plants. “However, we are facing legal complexities,” she said. There is no provision in any law for prosecution of those wasting water, she said. Besides, Indian Standards-456 state that ‘Potable water is generally considered satisfactory for mixing concrete’.
“Every time, we propose a stringent action, we face legal issues. Hence, we are jotting down points and are mulling over effecting amendments to by-laws relating to water. We are proposing issuance of warning on first instance of water wastage, followed by disconnection, penal action, and then lodging of First Information Report to the police,” Banerjee explained.
Water audit report may take 8-9 months
As far as the hearing about allocation of water from Pench irrigation project to NMC is concerned, Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) has asked the civic body to submit a water audit report for the city of Nagpur. Asked whether NMC was ready with the report, Banerjee told mediapersons that the tender for appointing an agency to conduct survey for preparation of water audit report was not opened till the Model Code of Conduct for Lok Sabha elections was lifted recently. Now, she said, work order would be given soon to the party concerned and it would take at least eight-nine months to conduct proper survey and then prepare water audit report. After that only, the report could be submitted to MWRRA, she added.