The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is likely to implement a build-operate-transfer (BOT) plan to improve water supply system in the city.

bodies with adequate experience and expertise are expected to send the proposals for the plan. These entities will have to form a supply system that ensures evenhanded water for all citizens. The system should be able to tackle leakage problems, pilferage and wastage of water.

Tata Consultants submitted a proposal to the PMC a few days back on how to address and expand the city’s water supply. The company asked for Rs 37 crore as fees. Municipal commissioner Mahesh Zagade had tabled a proposal before the standing committee of the civic body but the committee opposed it saying there was no need of paying such excessive fees. The upshot was that the proposal was sent back to the administration.

Ujwal Keskar, standing committee member said, “The PMC has already conducted various surveys and appointed consultants for water supply. However, all these reports are gathering dust. The administration with the help of these old reports should ask its officers to make and execute the plan.”

Chairman Arvind Shinde advocated the need of the BOT model so that there is no need for PMC to invest in the project.

Municipal commissioner Mahesh Zagade said, “The standing committee has asked the civic administration to tap the possibility of a BOT project plan which is being done. There is immediate need to overhaul the water supply system considering the last two years’ water crises.”
“The plan includes leakage detection, repairs and water distribution. Once the BOT plan is ready, we will table it before the elected representatives for approval,” said Zagade.

“Private entrepreneurs could be invited to build-operate and transfer the water supply system. We have to work on the model and ensure that the investor gets returns. The main hurdle is that water supply is not a profit-making venture and no private player will be interested in the project unless he is assured of good returns,” said Zagade.

Pune gets its drinking water supply from the Khadakwasla reservoir through a closed pipeline. In addition, it lifts water from the Mutha right bank canal which is purified at the Parvati water works which is then supplied to the city.

The problem PMC faces is peculiar. There is no system that could measure the quantity of water received from the state irrigation department. This makes a sad revelation that it’s all about the approximate calculations with no exact idea of the amount of water available.

- Yogesh Sapre