Water project 15% functional 2-yr after missed deadline; citizens aghast

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The Rs 2,740-crore water supply project for Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has achieved nearly 82% physical completion, but is only 15% functional, more than two years after missing its original deadline of March 2024, raising concerns among citizens who are desperate for a reliable water supply.The project, announced in Sept 2019 and expected to benefit around 20 lakh residents, continues to face multiple technical and construction-related hurdles. The latest setback involves alleged poor-quality and incomplete work at the pump houses at Jayakwadi and Nakshatrawadi. According to officials of the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran, the project implementing agency, leakages developed during the first spell of monsoon rain.“As a result, electrical equipment got soaked in water and the water supply was shut down for safety reasons. The contractor has yet to carry out permanent repairs to stop the leakages,” a senior official said.Although around 1,200km of distribution pipelines have been laid across the city, crucial hydraulic pressure testing of the network remains incomplete. Officials said the mandatory pressure testing of the pure water gravity channel had also not been conducted.

The project originally proposed the construction of 55 overhead water tanks, but only six tanks have been completed so far. Even among these, leaks in key tanks at Delhi Gate and Jubilee Park reportedly took nearly a year to rectify. Besides, desilting work was completed around five months behind schedule at jackwell at Jayakwadi dam, while repairs to the approach bridge structures are still pending.“Many scour valves are leaking. The work of butterfly valves and scour valve chambers is incomplete.

Protective sheds on sensitive structures at the water treatment plant have remained pending for the last two years,” the official said.The delays have intensified frustration among residents, many of whom continue to receive water once every eight to ten days, while several localities still lack direct tap-water connections. “Despite living within city limits, we still do not have a tap-water connection and depend on private tankers and borewells.

Apart from the financial burden, it is embarrassing when relatives and friends visit us,” Ashish Beedkar of Satara-Deolai said.The issue has also put the spotlight on a promise made by CM Devendra Fadnavis earlier this year, when he assured residents that the city would receive a smooth and improved water supply within two months. Though Sambhajinagar guardian minister Sanjay Shirsat could not be contacted for comment, BJP cabinet minister Atul Save expressed confidence that the project would soon overcome its challenges.“The progress of the project is being monitored directly by the Chief Minister’s War Room. All pending issues will be addressed. We are committed to making the project 100% functional,” Save said.