PCB asks for funds from State govt to address water issue 

Pune: To find a solution to the never-ending problem of poor water supply and contamination of water for which the residents of Pune Cantonment area have been suffering for more than three years, the Cantonment has sent a proposal to the State government to allot development funds to repair the water supply lines of its jurisdiction. 
It has been several years now that the issue of changing the water pipelines was pending. The water supply of Cantonment area is managed by PMC and the PMC and PCB have been engaged in a dispute over outstanding water bills. Thus, the residents have been suffering for more than three years now. 

During the recent board meeting in PCB, it was decided that the whole amount, i.e, Rs 5 crore will be dedicated to repair and changing water pipelines. But Kiran Mantri, ward member of PCB said the other issue affecting the residents is that of drainage problem. He suggested that half the amount should be dedicated to repair water pipelines and half should be allocated to solve the drainage issue. 

But most of the ward members said that since the problem of water contamination and poor water supply needs to be addressed on priority, the entire fund should be allocated to solve that problem. The drainage issue could be addressed next year. 

Priyanka Shrigiri, ward member of PCB said, “The funds have not been alloted yet by the State government. We have sent a proposal to the government and now are waiting for acceptance of the same. Rs 5 crore will not be sufficient to change the entire water pipelines, so now after receiving the amount from the State government, we will start work of the most affected area where the pipeline is rusted or broken.” 

“After the pipelines are repaired or changed, we will decide on the next course of action to curb the same issue,” Shrigiri added.