Pune: Citizens Say No To Home Water Meter Installation
Pune, November 19, 2020: Puneities oppose the installation of water meters in homes under a water supply scheme launched by the Pune Municipal Corporation. The citizens are protesting fearing illegal plumbing, areas with high water supply will get less water and will have to pay extra for water– are some of the reasons. The refusal of the citizens to install water meters has also increased the difficulties facing the water supply department and it has become clear that the main objective of the scheme is also being thwarted.
The PMC has undertaken a uniform water supply scheme to ensure equitable water supply to all parts of the city. The process of installing water meters has been started under this scheme. In the first phase, three lakh water meters will be installed for both domestic and residential income. Although the process of installing water meters has been initiated in the last two years, only 23,000 water meters have been installed so far. Nonetheless, cases of water meter theft have also come to light in these years. Therefore, the work of the scheme is prolonged.
Illegal plumbing has been provided to societies in many places in the city. Illegal plumbing has been installed with political bounty. In some places, the regional offices have also been connected to each other. Some societies have even replaced the pipelines that have been approved by them. Citizens are worried that both these issues will come up as the process of installing water meters has started. The officials of the water supply department have noticed that the employees of the company who came to install the water meter are not allowed to install the water meter.
A large number of illegal connections have been found in Sinhagad Road, Dhankawadi, Balajinagar. There are places where water meters were installed, but have been removed later. There have been incidents of water meters stolen in some places. Hence, the administration is doubtful about the completion of the process of installing water meters.
Under the same water supply scheme, in addition to laying 1,600 km long aqueducts, repair of old and dilapidated aqueducts, installation of water meters and erection of storage tanks have been started in three phases. Under this, only 23,000 water meters have been installed in two years. However, the work of laying the waterways is progressing at a slow pace. Excavation is being carried out by the water supply department to lay new waterways and repair the waterways. Till now, the work of laying 500 km long waterways has been completed.
