Water cut begins today, likely to continue entire yr

Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is all set to implement cut in water supply beginning Wednesday, which is likely to continue throughout the year. The civic body decided on Tuesday, though, to continue supplying water as usual to 30% areas, which get water supply from Kanhan river.
As per the new plan, NMC will implement alternate day water supply in 70% areas — West, South-West, Central and some parts of South Nagpur, which get water from Pench reservoirs.
The remaining 30% areas are North, East and some parts of South Nagpur. While announcing cut in water supply on Monday, ruling party leader Sandip Joshi had said all city areas will get alternate day water supply for two weeks starting Wednesday.
Chairman of water works consultative committee Vijay Zelke told TOI the decision was changed to avoid wastage of Kanhan river water.
“NMC is drawing water from dead stock of Pench reservoirs since May 16. We expected rains at the beginning of monsoon but it did not happen. Therefore, we had to take the decision of water cut. But Kanhan river has water, and there is no storage facility for this water. It will just flow away and go waste if we do not use it. Therefore, we will continue supply in areas getting water from Kanhan river. Alternate day water supply will also be implemented in these areas if water flow in Kanhan river stops. Decision will be taken after taking stock of the situation on Thursday,” he said.
NMC executive engineer Shweta Banerjee said water tankers too will continue to ply in 30% areas. “However, we will not increase tankers or quantum of supply in these areas, so that water is not diverted to remaining 70% areas. All NMC officials and OCW have been directed to monitor misuse of water,” she said.
Joshi said water cut will continue throughout the year if there is less rain. “First, we need to refill dead stock of Pench reservoirs. Then, enough water has to be stored for entire year, possibility of which seems bleak. We will get experience of water cuts on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. We will take stock of water in Pench reservoirs on Monday, and take a decision on continuing cuts for next week. Considering all these experiences, water works department will prepare a report and table it before the general body. Decision for cuts throughout the year will be taken in the general body. At the same time, NMC as well as people need to conserve water as much as possible,” he said.
Officials of Water Resources Department (WRD) and NMC said water cuts are a must for the entire year if Pench reservoirs do not get more water than last year. Pench reservoirs got 450-500 million meter cube (MMC) water last year as against total capacity of 1,157 MMC. Some 280 MMC was supplied for irrigation and rest kept for NMC, Mahagenco and evaporated. Live storage lasted till May 15 and since then water is being drawn from dead stock till date. Now, the dead stock requires 40 MMC to be replenished. The district got 28% less rains as compared to last year in last one month of monsoon.
Unfortunately, special package of Rs1,015 crore approved by the state government to resolve less water storage in Pench reservoirs has remained on papers for last one year. The project aims to find new water sources for irrigation so that water in Pench reservoirs could be kept for NMC and other dependants.
Also, Kochchhi barrage being constructed on Kanhan river is not likely to be completed till 2020 due to which running water of monsoon cannot be stored. Similarly, NMC’s plan to construct barrage on Kanhan river has been lying on paper for last two years. The same is the case with the civic body’s plan to use running water from Kanhan river for six months so that water in Pench reservoirs can be stored for remaining six months.