The Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) ambitious 24×7 water supply project, aimed at addressing the acute water crisis in Kondhwa Budruk, Undri, and Mohamadwadi, is facing significant delays due to the sluggish progress of the Katraj-Kondhwa road-widening project. Residents, already grappling with water shortages, are now forced to spend exorbitant amounts on water tankers as the completion of the road widening remains elusive.
The road-widening initiative, which commenced in 2018, was slated to create an 84-meter-wide road to facilitate the laying of a 1,000 mm water channel. This channel, connected to the Vadgaon water purification center, forms a crucial component of the 24×7 water supply scheme, designed to serve a population of 3.5 lakh in the affected areas. Unfortunately, the project hit a roadblock as demands for cash compensation from landowners led to a fund shortage of Rs 750 crore.
In response to the financial setback, PMC authorities decided to reduce the road width to 50 meters instead of the initially planned 84 meters. This modification creates challenges, as locations with an 84-meter-wide water channel now require a 50-meter-wide channel, risking disruptions to the water supply. Residents, weary of the prolonged water crisis, have expressed frustration at the slow pace of the road-widening work and the subsequent impact on their daily lives.
Kedar Joshi, a resident of Kondhwa Khurd, lamented, “Even before any planned water cuts, which will affect the entire city, our areas are facing water shortage issues. The slow pace of road work has further exacerbated the problem. Despite making several pleas to the civic authorities to expedite the work, no action has been taken so far. We are forced to spend a huge sum on water tankers.”
Nandkishor Jagtap, Chief Engineer of the PMC water supply department, acknowledged the challenges and reassured residents that the 24×7 water supply scheme would commence once the road work is completed. He explained, “Earlier there were hurdles in land acquisition. Now the width of the road has been decreased from 84 to 50 meters, and the work has been started again. As soon as it gets over, we will commence the ambitious 24×7 water project.”
However, residents remain skeptical, with Shreya Lonkar of NIBM stating, “There is an acute water crisis in our area, and we are left with no option but to spend money on water tankers. The societies are spending extra money for this. Shockingly, a few new constructions in the area are promised with PMC water and are getting adequate water supply. We feel cheated.”
As the city eagerly awaits the resolution of the road-widening impasse, the delay continues to impact the daily lives of thousands, intensifying the urgency for prompt action and completion of the Katraj-Kondhwa road-widening project.
