Pune: PMC Imposes Rs 1.21 Lakh Per Day Fine On Larsen & Toubro Company For Delay In Water Supply Project
Pune, March 10, 2021: Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has fined Larsen & Toubro (L&T) company for delaying the implementation of equitable water distribution and violation of various conditions laid by the civic body. The company has been ordered to pay Rs 1.21 lakh per day. PMC has also taken action against the consultant.
In 2018, PMC launched an ambitious plan to transform the prevailing intermittent water supply into 24X7 pressurized water supply and to implement 100% smart metering covering every household of Pune City. The scheme envisages to substantially reduce the Non-Revenue Water (NRW) of the city by plugging losses and upgrading the entire water supply system. Pune is the first metropolitan city in India that will execute a project of this nature on such a large scale.
The civic body has undertaken the work of laying the pipeline for equitable water distribution across the city. The work will be carried out in three phases. It includes 83 water tanks, installing a 1,600 km water pipeline, and the installation of 3.25 lakh water meters.
The estimated cost of the project is Rs 2,520 crore. Nearly 80 percent of work is given to L&T company. Considering the mammoth work involved, PMC had made an action plan and fixed the deadline for completing the work.
PMC served 35 notices to the company and has asked the reason for the delay. The company has to pay Rs 1.21 lakh per day, and the consultant has been notified to pay Rs five lakh fine. L&T has failed to spread awareness regarding installing the water meter, improper digging, no consultation with the end customers, installing the poor water meter, and several other works.