11 years on, no area in Nagpur getting 24x7 water supply, reveals NMC & OCW data

NAGPUR: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), and Orange City Water Private Limited (OCW) have revealed that not a single locality in the water command areas is getting 24x7 water supply.
After consistently claiming for years that 34 of 103 water command areas are getting 24x7 water supply, the civic body and its contractor have now said that 32 water command areas are getting 18-24 hours water supply.
TOI had on April 26 reported that MLC and BJP city president Pravin Datke exposed the wrong claims of supply of 24x7 water by NMC and OCW in areas under Qilla Water Command Area. In front of all concerned officials, Datke, also former mayor, himself contacted residents on mobile phone numbers shared by NMC and OCW officials, and confirmed water was being supplied for only four hours and not 24x7.
Datke later asked for factual data of water command areas getting 24x7 water. Shockingly, NMC and OCW did not claim 24x7 water supply in a single command area in the data sent to Datke. These agencies clearly mentioned 18-24-hour supply in 32 command areas.
Under JNNURM, the central government had sanctioned over Rs1,100 crore between 2006 and 2009 for improving infrastructure and supplying 24x7 water to entire city by March 31, 2012. NMC engaged OCW from March 1, 2012, and set deadline of five years, which ended on March 31, 2017.
A joint venture of Veolia India and Vishvaraj Infrastructure, OCW claimed to have converted some command areas into 24x7 from 2017. Till last year, the operator claimed to have converted 34 command areas, which is 33% of all areas.
In the latest data, water supply in pilot project area (demo zone) falling under NMC Dharampeth Zone is also mentioned as 18-24 hours. Advocate Akshay Samarth had many times alleged there was no 24x7 water supply in demo zone.
NMC and OCW did not respond to TOI’s calls and messages.
City MP and union minister Nitin Gadkari had many times claimed over 50% of the city was getting 24x7 water supply.
BJP MLA from East Nagpur Krishna Khopde told TOI, “Not entire command area but many localities are getting 24x7 water supply. Gadkari is continuously pursuing the project and has called a review meet on May 5. Our dream of supplying 24x7 water to entire city will come true. It is an admitted fact that OCW failed to maintain pace and seemed ineligible to some extent. But flaws will be rectified and project will be successful.”
Alleging a big scam, Congress leader Prashant Dhawad said OCW reduced duration of water supply compared to the past in the name of 24x7 water supply project. “Many areas in South and East Nagpur were getting one hour supply in morning and evening, which was sufficient. OCW dug up roads and narrow lanes of residential localities to lay new pipeline, meters etc. Now, supply is down to 30 minutes, that too at low pressure. Inquiry should be conducted into funds spent on the project,” he said.
Shiv Sena leader Nitin Tiwari demanded an inquiry into funds by a retired judge. “Some areas in the constituency of Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis are getting 24x7 water. Residents in other parts are getting only hefty bills and no water. Project was meant only to benefit companies that set up OCW. People are realizing loot of public money and will teach a lesson to the responsible political party,” he said.