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In Parched City, Even Tankers Thirst For Water
By akansha, Section News  With water supply badly hit because of delayed monsoons, the parched city is praying for rain, or even a water tanker. But this time around, even the water tankers, particularly those operated by private ones are being scarcely seen, even though people are ready to pay more. The reason, many tanker operators say, is that Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has restricted tankers from getting water from their refilling stations, as water availability is poor. However, private water tankers having access to borewells are making a killing. "Supply from Khadakwasla dam has been reduced by the irrigation department. The civic administration has not stopped supplying water to private tankers, but there is not enough water to spare," PMC development engineer (Water Supply Department), Pramod Nirbhavane, said. He said there is no policy decision on not supplying water to private tankers and in case of an emergency they are still given water. The PMC provides water at Rs 300 per tanker of 10,000 litre capacity. When pointed out that the water tankers are making good business by selling water at almost 4 to 5 times the cost at which they get it from PMC, Nirbhavane said, "It is difficult to keep a check on tankers supplying water at higher rates. Our responsibility is in making water available whenever possible." Source: The Indian Express In parched city, even tankers thirst for water Click On "Full Story" For More....
Around 400 tankers used to be given water at PMC refilling centers. Now the number has gone down to around 40 tankers. Water tankers of PMC are given priority over others, private tanker operators say.
Some of them have also alleged that the civic administration was favouring certain service providers who wield political clout. "Select water tankers manage to get water from the refilling centres. There is a huge demand for water, but we are unable to meet it as there is no supply from PMC," Girish Aaaher of Aaher water service, said. He said that the PMC had given contracts to a few water suppliers to provide water in some areas badly hit by water shortage, but most of them were selling water at higher prices to people. Aaaher said he has resorted to supplying borewell water that is chemically treated before distributing it. "Normally, borewell water is sold at Rs 300 per tanker, but citizens are paying almost four times more to get water," he said. B V Deokar of Deokar and Sons Water Suppliers said PMC allows refilling of tankers only a few times. He said business had taken a hit due to unavailability of water. To overcome expenses incurred in the business, the tanker rates have also increased. Earlier, water was being supplied at Rs 1,000 per tanker while now its available in the range of Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,500 per refill, Deokar said. For the few tanker services dependent only on water available from PMC refilling centres, the situation is grave.
The citizens are reeling under the water scarcity. Warje resident Suresh Kulkarni said his housing society has been getting insufficient water supply from the PMC and there's no response from tanker services either. "We have been contacting water tanker services, but despite offering to pay more, there has been no response," he said.
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