Pune: The civic body has said that nearly 85% work of the equitable water supply project in the city has been completed and the remaining would be done by May-end, even as citizens decried the delay in the deadline of Dec 2025. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) said that till now, 70 of the 82 overhead water tanks have been constructed and around 1,100km of the targeted network of 1,200km-long distribution lines has been laid. However, installation of 30,000 automatic water meters remained pending as citizens have been resisting the move. The administration said newly elected corporators could help encourage people to accept the decision.The project is being implemented with the aim to enhance water pressure and distribution across the city, while reducing wastage. PMC officials said that once the basic work of distribution lines and overhead tanks was complete, the plan would be executed in phases in different zones. The next two months were crucial to finish all infra works related to water pipelines, they said.A senior official of the civic water supply department said, “There are 140 zones in the city identified for the project. Works in 40 zones have been successfully wrapped up . We have started to supply water from the newly constructed overhead tanks in the said areas. The facilities will be operational in more zones over the next two months.”Meanwhile, residents of various neighbourhoods have expressed apprehension on the outcome of the project. They have said the administration should begin to execute it at the earliest to study its success. Hadapsar resident Arun Gadgil said, “The project is moving slowly. Supply is yet to begin from the new overhead tanks. Summer is here and the water pressure is likely to drop. The administration should have finished the work earlier.” Sources from PMC said delays in getting no objections certificates from various govt departments was a major reason behind the slow progress. The administration has sought permission to dig roads and implement traffic diversions to complete the remaining activities under the project.
