2 new water tanks become operational in Nagpur

NAGPUR: After a delay of almost two years, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has completed the work on two of the 24 water service reservoirs, commonly known as overhead water tanks. With these two tanks getting operational, water supply may improve to some extent in east and south Nagpur.

Executive engineer Prakash Urade told TOI that the tanks, technically called as elevated service reservoir (ESR), are situated at Shanti Nagar and Sakkardara. "The tanks, which became operational a few days ago, have been connected to the main network of Kanhan water treatment plant," he said.

Leader of the ruling party Praveen Datke said two more tanks are set to become operational. "Work on GSR constructed at Jaitala and ESR at Pratap Nagar has been completed and would be used to supply water in the next few days. Work on 10 more ESRs at Bastarwari, Indora, Nandanvan, Hanuman Nagar and other places is expected to be completed by December," he said.

The Centre had given approval for the construction of 24 tanks, including 22 overhead water tanks (ESR) and two underground water tanks (GSR), under the ambitious JNNURM on December 28, 2006. Funds worth Rs39.30 crore were approved for 24 tanks. The work on 24 tanks was to be completed by December 2010. But NMC could complete only two tanks till date. NMC has not been able to start work on four tanks till date, citing various problems.

In fact, the tanks were not to be connected to the existing water network and part of Pench IV water treatment plant being constructed, also under JNNURM. To improve the quantity and quality of water supply, the Centre had approved the new water treatment plant with an installed capacity of 115 million litres per day (MLD) at a cost of Rs79.24 crore. It was to be the sixth water treatment plant of NMC. The work on the plant was to complete by September 2010. But the NMC completed 44% work till June end.

The city was to get 115 MLD additional water with the commissioning of the plant. The water was to be supplied to 24 tanks and also distributed to the households. The delay in its construction forced the officials to connect these two overhead water tanks to the existing network. A senior NMC official said the two tanks will continue to be connected to Kanhan water treatment plant and not Pench IV.