24/7 water supply project to start in August

Mumbai: The pilot of 24/7 water supply project will finally kick-start in the city from August 15 this year and will be implemented in two wards  in the city, Bandra and Mulund, by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) under the Water Distribution Improveme-nt Programme (WDIP).

Under the WDIP, a proposal to lay water mains at Gazdarband slums in H-West ward was tabled before the civic standing committee for approval on Wednesday. During the discussion, corporators slammed the civic administration for failing to implement 24/7 water supply in the city. “We want to know from when exactly the city will get 24/7 water supply and what are the reasons for the delay in the project?” asked BJP group leader Manoj Kotak.

Replying to them, additional municipal commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee said the 24/7 water supply project would not mean round the clock supply to these areas but only more water than what is currently being supplied. “Considering several obstacles like the city’s topography, rising population, slums, growing constructions, it is a huge challenge to implement the project of 24/7 water supply. It will not be possible to supply 24/7 water supply to all parts of the city, but there will certainly be increase in the supply,” he said.

“The project will start in Bandra and Mulund on experimental basis from August 15. But to ensure uninterrupted supply to other areas, work like replacement of old pipelines, laying additional mains, mapping of present water distribution system will have to be carried out. In some wards, they have been completed, while in some areas, they are yet to be carried out,” said Mr Mukherjee.

The 24/7 water supply project on a pilot basis, which will be implemented at the cost of Rs 278 crore, was approved in 2014. The BMC has appointed Suez Enviro-nment as a consultant for the project.