42 overhead tanks planned, NMC fails to get land for 26

Nagpur: Despite planning to construct 42 elevated storage reservoirs (ESRs) or overhead water tanks, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) will be able construct only 16. The reason: The civic body has failed to acquire land and hand it over for the construction. As a result, water woes of residents in many localities are likely to continue.
Against its plan to construct 42 ESRs and one ground storage reservoir, Wapcos — the firm entrusted with the job of constructing overhead tanks — has agreed to construct only 17. Of these, the site selected for the construction of one ESR at Godhni has failed in the soil strata test.
Public health engineering department said the NMC will construct only 16 ESRs through Wapcos. The NMC has received Rs272.02 crore from the central government under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme for strengthening water supply system in the city.
The 16 ESRs include five under Nehru Nagar zone, two including twin type in Hanuman Nagar zone, one each under Mangalwari zone, Pratap Nagar, Khamla, Gayatri Nagar, Nara, Nari-2, Indora, Bharatwada and Wanjari Nagar.
The areas which may face water crisis include Laxmi Nagar, Binaki, Chinchbhuvan, Bastarwari, Jaripatka, Dhantoli, Boriapura, Zingabai Takli and Ram Nagar.
A senior official from the public health engineering department told TOI that due to opposition from the residents and some government agencies to spare land, the civic body had to drop the plan to construct more ESRs. Even Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) had refused to spare land on its premises for constructing one ESR, said the official.
A residents’ group had also approached the high court against the civic body’s plan to construct ESRs in public spaces like gardens and playgrounds.
With the growing population, water crisis is inevitable, and residents of these localities will definitely face problems, admitted the officer.
The official pointed out that considering the city’s growing population, the NMC had prepared a detailed project report (DPR) for constructing the ESRs in 2015-16. The delay in awarding the work also escalated the construction cost of five ESRs. Even Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran’s schedule of rates clarified that the construction cost has increased significantly. Now, the NMC will have to spend an additional Rs75.90 crore from its pocket as the central government will not provide additional funds for the ESR construction.
The department has submitted a proposal to be taken up in the general body meeting convened by mayor Dayashankar Tiwari on July 22. As per the proposal, construction of 11 ESRs is in progress and the department needs nod of the House for additional Rs75.90 crore funding.
Already in place
75 | Overhead and ground storage reservoirs
30 | ESR command areas converted into 24x7
IN PIPELINE
11 | Work in progress
5 | Nod sought for additional funds