Nagpur to cut water supply 10% from October 16, but no circular yet on mayor's conservation orders

Rainfall has been low in Nagpur district and water stocks in reservoirs are falling, raising fears of a possible water crisis. Preventing the wastage of drinking water and using the available water wisely has become essential. The municipal corporation needs to take firm steps, but a day after Mayor Neeta Thakre issued directions on water conservation, the civic administration has not been able to start effective action.

Not even a formal circular on the mayor's directions has been issued to zone officers. No citizen has been fined for wasting drinking water. Officials say they have so far received no official intimation of the mayor's directions. It was also not clear what action they were supposed to begin under the directions.

Experts say that after the mayor's directions, clear orders needed to reach the departments concerned, zone offices and monitoring squads. In the absence of formal instructions, action could not begin.

Despite the mayor's directions, water use in the city looked the same as on ordinary days on the second day as well. At several places water kept flowing on roads, and vehicle washing at workshops continued as before. According to officials, many citizens clean the paths and open spaces in front of their homes early in the morning. If monitoring squads inspect only during normal daytime hours, many cases of water wastage could escape their notice. Patrolling and checks are needed in the early morning as well to enforce the rules.

The Water Resources Department of the Maharashtra government has directed municipal corporations to implement a 10 per cent water cut from October 16, in view of low rainfall and falling reservoir stocks. The step is being taken in view of low storage in major sources including Totaladoh. The aim of the decision is to ensure planned use of available water and to keep consumption in check to deal with the threat of a water crisis. Along with the cut, preventing wastage is equally important.

Shweta Banerjee, superintending engineer in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation's public health engineering department, said misuse of water would be monitored through the assistant commissioners of all 10 zones in the city, the Nuisance Detection Squads (NDS) and staff of the water supply department. The plan is to carry out zone-level inspections to identify unnecessary use of drinking water and take action in such cases. However, the monitoring drive has been delayed because the formal circular has not been issued.

Executive engineer Shrikant Waykar said these measures would be implemented in the next day or two. He clarified that no separate helpline would be issued for complaints about violations. Citizens will be able to lodge complaints on the corporation's existing helpline, 155304.