World marks water day but city agencies lax about leaks

NAVI MUMBAI: Even as World Water Day was observed on Wednesday, agencies supplying drinking water are clueless about the amount that gets wasted because of damaged pipelines.
This results in reduced pressure in taps for end users. Leakages in the NMMC supply system have been seen at Koparkhairane and Airoli and other areas. Similarly, the Cidco supply system, that has old pipelines from Hetawane dam, has also developed leaks.
A lot of drinking water wastage has been noticed in the main lines and sub-lines before it reaches the taps of consumers but authorities are doing little to plug these leakages and are not advising people to do their bit for conserving this precious resource.
Water is supplied only on alternate days due to shortage in areas under Cidco, NMMC and PCMC jurisdiction.
Head of NMMC water supply department, Manohar Sonawane, told TOI, “Our field staff headed by the supervisors visit all vulnerable spots where leakages are anticipated due to theft, tampering of control valves, joints in the main lines and plug the pilferage. The loss has been minimized. However, we are concerned about slum dwellers, who are reportedly involved in tampering of the main supply line.”
A TOI team has identified few areas where water gets wasted—main line at Koparkhairane flyover on Thane-Belapur Road, green patches on the road divider along Patni road in Airoli, near Mukand Steel, opposite MSEB office in Digha, Kamothe junction, Jambhulpada and Targhar.
Agencies that supply water to the Navi Mumbai commissionerate area are NMMC, Cidco, MJP, PMC and MIDC.
Cidco areas like Kharghar, Ulwe, Dronagiri and Taloja receive erratic supply as the lines are old and need frequent repairs. “We are fed up with the irregular water supply here. Cidco has failed to manage the supply. World Water Day is meant for the officials to conserve water for better supply,” said Ranjeet Gude, a Kharghar resident.
Cidco assistant engineer, water supply, Rajesh Haatvar said that work was on to replace old lines and this will soon end the water woes.
Activist Dilip Mahajan said, “We often observe water getting wasted from broken water pipelines and leakages. However, as citizens we are helpless. The onus to save water is on the service provider. We have hardly seen any surveillance teams taking stock of the situation. Periodic maintenance and vigilance can plug the loss.”
Residents said that instead of giving instructions and tips on saving water, the civic body should fix the loopholes in the conservation mechanism. “NMMC has to plug leakages, stop thefts and unauthorised connections in residential and construction sites,” said Parag Rawat, a Koparkhairane resident.