NMC inspects 161 car washes in Nagpur, finds 4 using tap water illegally

The Water Resources Department of the Maharashtra government has warned all local bodies in the state and issued directions to cut water supply by 10 per cent. Following this, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has begun keeping a watch on commercial use of water.

Despite the directions, the civic body is for now avoiding a water cut. The problem is that if raw water is not available, the corporation has no plan for where drinking water would come from. Even so, it is now looking for ways to deal with the coming water crisis.

This is evident from the fact that inspections have begun wherever commercial use of water is known. Cement road works and projects that need a lot of water have already been temporarily stopped. The civic administration has also begun strict action against those misusing water. As part of this, 161 car washing centres were inspected across all 10 zones of the city.

In Laxmi Nagar zone, 12 car washing centres were inspected. Well water was found in use at 7 of them and borewell water at 5.

In Dharampeth zone, 26 car washing centres were inspected in all. The owners of 4 of them were found illegally using tap water to wash vehicles.

In Hanuman Nagar zone, well water was being used to wash vehicles at 17 places. The remaining centres were found to be using borewell water.

The civic administration has made it clear that those who use drinking water commercially, or waste water without permission, will face heavy fines. Their tap connections will also be cut immediately.

The administration said surprise inspection teams will also be sent to other commercial establishments, service centres and construction sites in the coming days. The aim is to ensure that strict rules on saving water in the city are followed.