Civic chief orders use of treated sewage water for devp work

PUNE: Following opposition raised by several corporators, the civic body has issued fresh instructions to restart the developmental work by using treated sewage water instead of potable water. These instructions were issued during a Standing Committee meeting held on Wednesday. 

Last week, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) chief had ordered to stop the work of road construction. However, several corporators raised objections stating that it would hamper developmental work in the city. 

Last week, Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao had issued a circular asking to stop using drinking water for road and other development work. Following this, many corporators met Additional Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Nimbalkar to protest and registered their opposition. On Wednesday, during the Standing Committee meeting, corporators raised the issue of the halted construction work due to the order. It has been decided to take an affidavit from the contractor about using sewage treated water for road work.

Yogesh Mulik, Chairman of Standing Committee, said, “The administration has given a nod to begin road work. Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao has given instructions to start the work and to use sewage treated water for road construction.” 

Water is required for preparation of mortar, mixing of cement concrete and for curing work, etc, during construction work. According to the civic administration, for one kilometre of CC patch, they need 10,000 litres of water for a standard curing time of 21 days of the concrete. 

According to PMC statistics, there are 50 big and 100 small works of CC roads going on in the city.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Corporator Mahesh Wabale said, “The PMC has given work order for most of the road construction work. All this work has been mentioned in the annual budget of 2018-19 and the funds have also been allotted. Due to the order of the PMC commissioner, construction work has been halted. The work has to be completed and funds have to be utilised. If PMC wants to stop work, then they would have to give an extension to complete the work.” 

One of the senior officials of PMC’s Road Department said, “Drinking water is not used for road construction. The contractor uses readymade cement mixture for road construction and all cement mixing plants are located outside PMC limits. For curing cement mixture, the contractors use dug and bore well water. Besides that, we have instructed them to use the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) treated water for road construction. Hence, there is no need to stop road construction work.”