Balewadi-Baner residents demand site visits, repairs & replacement of pipelines to alleviate water woes

Pune: Immediate site visits, inspection and repairs of the distribution network, and replacement of ageing pipelines were among the measures Balewadi-Baner residents put forth at a recently held meeting with civic officials over water supply woes they have been facing for the last three years.
The members of the Balewadi Welfare Forum (BWF), a representation of the housing societies from the area, pressed for immediate and long-term solutions to help reduce dependency on water tankers.
Ramesh Rokde, a key member of the association, said it was agreed upon in the last two meetings, held at the Pune divisional commissioner's office, that PMC engineers would conduct site visits to Balewadi societies to assess and address the water supply issues. "Despite follow-ups, the PMC engineers have not yet visited all the areas facing water disruption. A main demand raised by the forum at the meeting was about immediate site visits by the civic officials to identify the problems, which has also not happened so far," he said.
Rokde said the association handed over the list of housing societies that required visits because of erratic water supply. "We also sought the details of PMC's arrangements of water supply to meet the growing demand in the area in view of the large-scale constructions. Many buildings are highrise structures and will add to the existing population significantly. We have received an assurance from officials about the site visits," he said.
Balewadi and Baner are among many areas in the city that have been facing water scarcity. The residents are not happy with the low-pressure supply, unscheduled water release and supply disparity. "Even though Balewadi and Baner are part of the Smart City initiative, the basic amenities are not up to the mark. PMC needs to focus on providing adequate water and ensure an uninterrupted supply," Ashok Joshi, a resident, said.
Among other issues raised by BWF were long-term solutions to water-related issues. The forums highlighted that about 8 MLD of water was required for Balewadi and the adjacent areas as against the current supply of 6 MLD. Besides, around 30% of water was still not fully accounted for, which is why water was not reaching the societies.
PMC officials said the visits would begin in the coming week, and immediate solutions would be worked out in most cases.
KEY CHALLENGES
Insufficient water supply has been a major concern for the Baner and Balewadi residents
Besides, frequent disruptions in water supply have caused inconvenience to the residents, who often have to rely on alternative sources of water like water tankers to meet their daily needs
The ageing water supply infrastructure in the area has contributed to the water woes, with leaks and bursts being common occurrences
Residents hope that PMC's efforts to improve the water supply infrastructure will bring relief to the area and provide a permanent solution to their water woes
SUPPLY STATUS
The residents said they needed 8 MLD water to meet their daily needs
PMC, however, is supplying only 6 MLD to areas, of which 30% of water unaccounted for
QUOTE
Even though Balewadi and Baner are part of the Smart City initiative, the basic amenities are not up to the mark. PMC needs to focus on providing adequate water and ensure an uninterrupted supply
Ashok Joshi | a resident