Water woes continue even during monsoon; MIM corporators protest

Aurangabad: In summer, Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) reduced the frequency of water supply. Now, four weeks into the monsoon, supply has still not eased. Several wards still receive water just once in five or six days.

Meanwhile, MIM corporators launched an indefinite agitation seeking equitable supply of water to all wards. AMC water works deputy engineer Sartaj Singh Chahal said sufficient water for the city will be available once the parallel pipeline project is completed.

Barring a few, almost all wards get water only once in three or more days. Residents in Cidco N-5, N-6, N-7, N-8, Hudco N-9, N-11, Mayur Park and Mukundwadi get water every fifth day.

Residents are also hassled as there are no fixed hours for water supply. There are also times when the water is supplied not on the day they expect it will be, but on the next. This has affected domestic routines.

The old city areas, including the 18 wards getting water from Shahgunj overhead water tank, are expected to get water every fifth day – but the supply is only made available after a larger gap.

On Monday, MIM corporators staged a dharna in front of the AMC office demanding water supply after every two days to all wards. MIM corporator Naser Siddiqui said that the city requires 250MLD water; AMC gets 235MLD.

“If there is a deficit of only 15 million litres on a daily basis, why is there a gap of three to five days in supplying water,” Siddiqui asked.

“The civic body can definitely supply water on alternate days. If not alternate days, at least every third day,” he said, hinting that this is a crisis created to privatize operations.

“We are in favour of the parallel pipeline project. But we do not want a water utility company. In addition, rampant black marketing and theft of water by hotels, marriage halls and hospitals needs to be checked,” the corporator said.

AMC set for out-of-court settlement with water utility company?

AMC water works engineer Sartaj Singh Chahal told TOI on Monday that the Supreme Court had not terminated the parallel pipeline project undertaken by the Aurangabad Water Utility Company. “We will settle the matter out-of-court and get the water utility company to complete the parallel pipeline project, after which the municipal water needs of the city will be fulfilled,” Chahal said.