Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC) initiative to address water distribution irregularities through the installation of 300 automated valves remains incomplete, exacerbating the city's water supply woes. The project, part of the Uniform Water Supply Scheme, aims to automate water distribution and prevent manual interventions that lead to artificial shortages.
Currently, water supply staff manually operate valves across different city areas, a process prone to errors. Insufficient turning of valves often results in reduced water flow and pressure, forcing residents to depend on private tankers.
Such issues are compounded by political interference, leading to frequent disruptions in supply. Although citizens lodge complaints with the water supply department, the resolution is often short-lived, leaving the underlying problems unaddressed.
To mitigate these challenges, the PMC proposed installing automated valves equipped with actuator technology. Integrated with the SCADA system, this technology allows remote control over water distribution, including setting schedules and adjusting water pressure online.
While some progress has been made, with valves installed in tanks in areas like Viman Nagar and Baner-Balewadi, a significant portion of the work remains incomplete.
The delay in completing this project is hindering the full implementation of the Uniform Water Supply Scheme, which is reportedly 80% complete. Final-stage tasks such as connecting pipelines to the main water line, laying pipelines to water tanks, and completing valve installations are stalled due to space constraints and other logistical challenges.
This delay benefits the tanker operators, who profit from the ongoing disruptions. The situation is particularly dire in newly merged villages like Kolewadi, Pisoli, and Yewalewadi, where there is no established water supply infrastructure.
The PMC has floated tenders worth ₹99.3 lakh for water tanker services in these areas, along with ₹49.99 lakh for Wagholi. However, the limited availability of municipal tankers forces residents to rely on private operators, further straining their finances.
