Pune: The civic body has started to replace British-era water pipelines across the civil pockets of the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) in a much-awaited relief to residents grappling with erratic water supply and deteriorating infrastructure for years.The pipelines, laid several decades ago, had worsened due to corrosion, damage and prolonged wear and tear. Residents had been raising concerns for long about leakages, contamination risks and frequent disruptions in supply.The PCB had been unable to undertake replacement works because of financial limitations.Executive engineer of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Rajesh Shinde told TOI: “The network is 20km long and the old pipelines will be replaced with new ones. Priority is being given to densely populated areas where the requirement is high and supply is at low pressure. The project will cost over Rs15 crore and will be completed over the next 18 months. We have already started the works in certain pockets.”New lines will reduce water losses due to leakages and improve overall water quality, he added.PCB chief executive officer (CEO) Vidyadhar Pawar said, “The PMC has been supplying water to the cantonment’s civilian localities over recent years and has stepped in to modernise the infrastructure now. The project aims to ensure a reliable and safe distribution system. We have given the required no-objection certificate for the works.”Meanwhile, the development comes as a much-needed intervention after years of hardship for residents.“We have faced leakages and low pressure supply for a long time. The water would often be muddy, especially during the monsoon. The replacement should have been done years ago,” said a resident of the Camp area. Another expressed cautious optimism and said, “Every few months, there would be temporary repairs. We hope the authorities are addressing the root cause now and the activity is not just patchwork.”Some residents highlighted health concerns associated with old pipelines. “There was always a fear of contamination because of the rusted and damaged pipes. Clean drinking water is a basic necessity. We are relieved that the work has started finally,” said a local shopkeeper.The ongoing work includes removal of old, rusted pipelines and installation of new, durable water lines designed to withstand long-term usage.A section of activists blamed the PCB for not replacing the pipelines over decades.“It was a big failure on the part of CEOs of PCB. They never made any efforts on this front. They deprived us from basic civic services all these decades. Therefore, people are in favour of excision so that they get basic services in the future,” said activist Murtuza Poonawala of Camp.Civic officials said the project will be carried out in phases to minimise disruption of daily supply. While some inconvenience is expected, authorities have assured residents that efforts are being made to complete the work swiftly.Also, the initiative highlights the growing coordination between PMC and cantonment authorities in addressing civic issues in shared service areas, said officials. “Once completed, the pipeline replacement is expected to improve water supply reliability and will be a step forward in upgrading ageing infrastructure in Pune’s cantonment zones,” said a senior PMC official.
