Pune: In Pune district, the Jal Jeevan Mission’s water supply schemes, which began four years ago, are undergoing revisions due to various technical challenges and additional costs.

The Zilla Parishad now faces the task of updating and re-tendering these plans. Out of 1,239 schemes, 782 are slated for re-tendering, with 328 revised development plans (DPRs) already prepared by the Zilla Parishad, as shared by the Rural Water Supply Department.

The Jal Jeevan Mission initially aimed to deliver direct piped water to households under the ‘Nal se Jal’ program.

Since its implementation, the project has significantly improved access to water, particularly for women in rural communities who previously had to make long treks to collect it.

As of now, 465 villages have received water directly through this scheme, but 782 villages are still awaiting project completion. The Zilla Parishad and Rural Water Supply Department are focused on fulfilling these remaining projects.

Reasons Behind Re-Tendering and Cost Revisions

The need for revisions emerged from several factors, including the incorporation of neighboring hamlets, rising GST rates, changes in available land, and an expanded distribution system.

Initially, a GST rate of 12% applied to the project; however, it has since increased to 18%, resulting in additional costs.

Many initial tenders were accepted at higher rates, and when extending the scheme to nearby areas, technical changes were necessary due to insufficient space and suboptimal water sources.

As the revised projects need urgent approval before the election code of conduct takes effect, the Rural Water Supply Department has been expediting these updates. Despite efforts, additional funds are required to implement the updated plans.