The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) finally acknowledged the problems of shared water supply infrastructure and joint responsibility of ensuring smooth supply to the residents where it continues to bear the wrath of people while other stakeholders evade the responsibility and push for a private-public-partnership mode of managing the supply network.
The RMC on Wednesday moved an inch closer to a resolution in this regard as the Standing Committee gave its nod to table a proposal in the Board’s meeting and forward the opinion of ward councilors to the State Government.
“The Standing Committee passed the resolution that water supply be ensured by developing infrastructure on PPP-mode. The proposal would be brought in the Board’s meeting and would be sent to the government,” said Deputy Mayor of RMC, Sanjeev Vijaywargiya.
Vijaywargiya added the municipal corporation often faces consumers’ ire for weak supply lines and erratic supply however other stakeholders such as Drinking Water and Sanitation Department rarely come under public scrutiny. The clarion call to change the approach to water supply also aspires to bring other stakeholders under the RMC’s command.
“DWSD rarely maintains any contact with us whereas we have to face uncomfortable questions from public. We would request the State Government to transfer offices of these stake holders at the RMC and give the responsibility of water supply entirely to us,” maintained the Deputy Mayor.
The Standing Committee also deliberated upon chinks in the massive supply infrastructure as Ranchi’s thirst is far from over due to broken and partially laid pipeline, no coverage at all and lack of concerted effort to replenish water tanks of households in the capital. Nonetheless, the Town Commissioner has mooted the idea of filling the infrastructure gap with AMRUT Yojna funds. Under the proposal which is still in early stages, a detailed project report of water supply infrastructure and water tanks is likely to be prepared and reimbursement would be sought under AMRUT yojna.
“We will try to supply water in areas which have not been covered by developing infrastructure on PPP-mode and under AMRUT Yojna,” expressed Town Commissioner, Prashant Kumar.
Meanwhile, the committee of RMC scolded contractors and expressed their reservations about not communicating any information about ongoing and proposed water supply projects in each municipal ward and also made stern remarks against contractors for delaying projects without valid justification. The Standing Committee directed private players to expedite the work and coordinate with ward councilors to ensure that investment of pipeline project is poured where it is needed.