French Firm To Assist PCMC In Reviving Its 24X7 Water Plan

(Indian Express, Oct 19, 2010)
A French firm has come forward to assist the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) in revising its botched 24X7 drinking water plan. If officials are to be believed, the PCMC is in the process of appointing Suez Environment Ltd of France to conduct water audit, water reform and also help the civic body in implementing its round the clock water plan.
Additional city engineer (water supply) Pravin Tupe last week told this paper that Suez company on its own had few days back approached the PCMC to conduct water audit.
“After going through the successful implementation of its projects relating to water distribution, we have decided to appoint it,” he said. The company, he said, would conduct the water audit free of cost as it gets funds from the French government. The proposal for appointing the firm would be placed before the standing committee meeting on Tuesday.
Municipal Commissioner Asheesh Sharma, who has already given his approval, said the PCMC did not have to pay anything for the audit. “It will be the first serious audit of its kind ever conducted in Pimpri-Chinchwad aimed at ensuring equitable distribution of water,” he said. Significantly, the civic chief said, the French company is helping the civic body in bring in reforms in the water system. “As part of the reforms, water districts will be created to plug water loss. For each water district, one junior engineer will be appointed. There will be a water reform unit as well,” he said. Sharma said once the reforms completed, the French company has promised to help the civic body in starting a pilot 24X7 water plan.
About six years ago, Sharma’s predecessor Dilip Band had promised round the clock water to the entire town, but his plan remained a non-starter due to various reasons like non-completion of water projects on time.
Executive engineer Pravin Ladkat said the French company has successfully implemented 24X7 water plan in 18 countries.
“The company is being appointed for 12 months to provide us expert guidance, technical support, conduct water audit, train engineer, set up hydraulic model, create elevated service zones and do hydraulic analysis,” he said.