Alternate day water supply to entire city for 2 weeks from July 17

Nagpur: In view of the 28% deficit rainfall in last one month, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has announced alternate day water supply for two weeks from Wednesday. There would be no water supply to the entire city on the next two Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Many areas may not get supply for more days, and a few are likely to receive contaminated drinking water supply since sewage water could seep into water pipes when supply is cut to the entire city at a time.
NMC ruling party leader Sandip Joshi said in a press conference on Monday that the decision was taken after approval from CM Devendra Fadnavis, union minister Nitin Gadkari and guardian minister Chandrashekar Bawankule. “Many areas in the state are witnessing cut in water supply for 2-15 days. City was lucky to go without cuts through the summer. Unfortunately, we have no option other than to introduce alternate day water supply due to less rain in last one month. This is the first time such a decision has been taken in city’s history,” he said.
Joshi said the decision will be reviewed on July 21. “We are hoping for some rain from July 19. We will resume daily water supply in case we get good rain. I cannot say anything about the situation two weeks later, as everything depends on the rain,” he said.
The move could spell deep trouble for non-network areas, especially on city outskirts, as Joshi said there would be no water supply through tankers too on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
The water tanker supply in these areas is enough only for drinking. Also, most households in these backward localities lack storage capacity.
Triggering a controversy, Joshi said even though some areas of east, north and south Nagpur, which get water from Kanhan river, could have been supplied water, it will not be done.
“Some 60% areas get water supply from Pench reservoirs, and remaining 40% from Kanhan river. The major problems are with Pench reservoirs. Kanhan river has water but not sufficient to supply all the areas. There will be problems if some areas are given water supply and majority kept dry. We will try to explore the possibility of providing water supply to some areas from Kanhan river so that it is not flow unused into Gosikhurd dam,” he said.
TOI spoke to officials in Pune and Chandrapur, where alternate day water supply was provided in the past. None of them had shut supply for the entire city on alternate days. The cut was implemented in parts of the city every day.
Asked the reason, NMC executive engineer Shweta Banerjee said it will be difficult to monitor valve operations if cut is not complete. “Some citizens themselves operate valves to get water supply in their areas,” she said.
Many areas, especially those at the far end of supply network, are likely to face cut in water supply for more days. Considering past instances, water pressure is low after shut down and it takes a long time to fill the overhead water tanks. If they do not get supply on Thursday, areas will get water next on Saturdays.
The decision has been taken without consent of all corporators. Asked whether it should have been discussed in general body, Joshi said dry spells forced them to take the decision.
Joshi said, “All office bearers and officials had a detailed discussion before the decision. I will talk to opposition leaders and send letters to all corporators.”
NMC leader of opposition Tanaji Wanve alleged this is the result of poor planning by NMC administration. “Water in reservoirs could have been conserved had cuts started from May onwards. Alternate day water supply for entire city is bad planning, and will create havoc. It also exposed big claims of BJP that it could supply 24X7 water supply to entire city in last two NMC elections,” he said.
Activist Prashant Pawar said alternate day water supply will not help conserve water. “People will be forced to store as much as possible in this system. People will learn to use water judiciously in case of area-wise supply cut over a longer period. It is a big failure of BJP-ruled NMC and ministers boasting of 24X7 water through out the country,” he said.
NMC has appealed to citizens to use tap water only for drinking purpose, and meet other requirements from borewells, wells and other sources.
Though a big move related to city, mayor Nanda Jichkar was not present in the meeting as well as the press conference. Deputy mayor Deepraj Pardikar and other office bearers were present.
In the past, there have been instances of alternate day water supply to some parts of the city but due to problems at treatment plants.