Nashik civic body issues notice to contractor for pipeline burst in Satpur

Nashik: The civic body has served a notice to a contractor for a water distribution pipeline bursting during road works in the Satpur area. Additionally, it imposed a penalty of Rs 65,000 for water wastage and said it would recover the cost of repairs from the contractor.Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) also initiated the process to serve notices to six other contractors for main water distribution pipelines bursts during various utility service works executed across the city.Civic officials said the penalty to be recovered would be five times the quantity of water wasted due to pipeline bursts. Apart from the penalty, the contractors concerned would also have to bear the cost of repairing the damaged water distribution pipelines.The action follows directions issued recently by mayor Himgauri Aher, who ordered the water supply department to take strict action against contractors responsible for damaging water pipelines.During a meeting on water-related issues held on April 13 with officials of the NMC water supply department, the mayor took serious note of repeated incidents of water pipeline bursts at various locations due to ongoing road works and construction of utility ducts."Those responsible for damaging water distribution pipelines and causing large-scale wastage will be issued notices, and the penalty amount will be recovered from them. Besides this, the cost of repairs of water lines damaged over the past 15 days will also be recovered," a senior NMC official said."We have already issued a notice to the contractor responsible for the water pipeline burst in the Satpur area, imposing a fine of Rs 65,000 for water wastage," the official added.Three contractors of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) caused water pipeline bursts at three locations in the Wadalagaon area while carrying out works. Notices were being served to MSEDCL in this regard.Meanwhile, water pipelines were damaged at three locations in the Panchavati division — at the Dream Castle signal on Makhmalabad Road, near Meenatai Thackeray Stadium, and another location — by contractors of the NMC public works department. Notices would be served to these contractors as well, a senior NMC official said.Another water pipeline was damaged at Ambedkar Chowk in Holaram Colony in Nashik city. The contractor concerned would be served a notice within the next day or two, an NMC official added.TOI reported on April 10 about the bursting of water pipelines at seven locations, resulting in the loss of over 10 lakh litres of water.Officials of the water supply department said most of the pipeline bursts occurred during road excavation works for the Kumbh Mela-related infrastructure projects and while laying utility ducts. The officials alleged that contractors failed to coordinate with the water supply department before excavation, and did not use metal detectors to detect underground pipelines and other utilities.