24x7 supply scheme can solve water issues if implemented properly: CM

Pune: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday inaugurated nine overhead tanks around Undri-Mohammadwadi areas under the 24x7 equitable water supply scheme that “would resolve water problems in Pune if implemented properly”.

He said, “The scheme was envisaged in 2015 to resolve water distribution problems in the city. There are continuous follow-ups being taken to ensure it is completed on time. The administration should speed up the remaining works. A review will be taken after two months.”

Fadnavis spoke about wastage as a major impediment to availability and that around 40% to 50% of water was flowing out of the system because of distribution losses. The 24x7 scheme also aimed to strengthen the distribution network and every drop would be accounted for, he added.

The inauguration of water tanks is a major milestone and will reduce water distribution issues in locations like NIBM Road and Undri. Many citizens and forums from the said areas had been demanding for long that the overhead tanks be made operational.

Meanwhile, the CM said Pune is fast emerging as an important hub and the capital for Global Capacity Centres (GCCs). “Around 25% of the GCCs in the country are developing in Pune. If the progress is to continue, we will have to provide good quality civic infrastructure. The city has to be more liveable and the govt is making efforts towards it. The public projects proposed for Pune will improve the infrastructure over the next three to four years,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fadnavis also inaugurated the first cancer hospital built through a public-private partnership in Pune. It has been constructed by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and a private organisation on civic land.

The hospital offers cancer treatments under Central Govt Health Scheme (CGHS) subsidised rates. During the hospital’s inauguration, Fadnavis said, “The state govt is developing a cancer grid across Maharashtra to organise primary, secondary and tertiary care. The PPP model used by the PMC is a good option to provide quality healthcare. It could be used to build similar medical centres in the future.”

Fadnavis said there was a rapid increase in cancer cases in India. It is ideal if the disease is cured in time otherwise the treatment process becomes expensive and continues for a long period. The central and state govts had added the disease to the healthcare schemes.

In another programme, Fadnavis unveiled a statue of Chhatrapati Shri Sambhaji Maharaj at the Sambhaji Maharaj Park on JM Road. The district information office said it was the world and Maharashtra’s first 10-foot-tall full-length bronze statue of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj composing the Budhbhushan scripture, built at a cost of Rs5 crore.

The CM also laid the foundation stone for a flyover near Mundhwa and chaired the agri hackathon prize distribution function in the city.