Special Correspondent, Guardian Minister blasts NMC, OCW for shoddy handling of water distribution Citizens must use water judiciously or face upto 50% cut during summer Need to bring down leakages to 15% Depleting storage at Totladoh, a matter of worry for district What ails our water distribution system Targeted leakage 15% Actual leakage 50% Zone-wise leakage Ashi Nagar 65% Gandhibag 70% Satranjipura 70% Mangalwari 50% Dhantoli 50% Dharampeth 35% Nehru Nagar 30% Laxmi Nagar 25% Hanuman Nagar 25% Due to insufficient rains in catchment area of Pench Dam this year, Nagpur city may face unprecedented water scarcity in next summer due to 50 percent cut proposed in raw water supply by the State Government.
Meanwhile, State Government has decided to release 100 MLD water for the farmers for their Kharip crop immediately.
Traditionally, Water Resources Department (WRD) is releasing water for Kharip crops in October but in view of farmers’ demands, government has taken a historic decision to release water to Nagpur and Bhandara district in this month.
This has adversely affected water storage in Pench dam.
The total capacity of Pench dam is 1092 MM3 but presently, only 352 MM3 or around 21 per cent water is available in the reservoir.
However, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, WRD Minister Girish Mahajan has taken a decision on my (Bawankule’s) request, Guardian Minister added and said, WRD may not release water for Kharip crops in the month of October due to less stock.
NMC should explore other sources for water supply during scarcity days as cut may be increased upto 50 per cent.
Guardian Minister blasted NMC for 60 per cent losses in four zones of the city.
He said, NMC has assured to reduce losses upto 25 per cent within two years but it seems that NMC and Orange City Water (OCW) are not serious to plug the leakages.
He has directed corporators and officers to create awareness among masses to use the water with extra caution.