PUNE, Nov 4: Taking a major initiative to mitigate its water scarcity crisis, the Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB) has approved in principle the construction of an underground water tank with a capacity of nearly 50,000 litres. The project is estimated at Rs 50 lakh.

A decision to this effect was taken at the recent finance committee meeting held here. Although a 50,000 litre capacity water tank is already in existence near the Punjab National Bank, the authorities realised that it rarely filled to its capacity owing to extremely low water pressure.

The finance committee members hoped that the underground tank would solve the water scarcity problem to a considerable extent since the stored water could then be used to fill the overhead tank.

Although the KCB had earlier approved of a plan to requisition 25 bore-wells in different parts of the cantonment, the ambitious plan found itself in the midst of a major controversy as the elected members had picked up cudgels with the cantonment board for its failure to dig wells in the given period.

The board, however, explained that it would be difficult to get on with the plan during the monsoons. Yet, the supply of drinking water continued to remain scarce since bore-well water was not considered fit for drinking purposes.

The board is examining the possibility of installing the tank either near the Pentacoastal Church or the Mangal Karyalaya. Members of the finance committee informed that a formal letter has already been sent to the Commissioner of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and a team was shortly expected to arrive in the cantonment to examine the project. The matter will be placed for approval before the board at the meeting to be held on November 14. The per capita water supply is 75 litres per day and on many days the supply is erratic due to various factors, says the KCB development plan report.

Presently, the water supply for the cantonment is maintained by the PMC through its own pipeline system. A three member committee formed by the board comprising of elected members Mauli Yadav, Satish Tyagi and Col S J Singh is also examining the possibility of an independent water supply scheme. However, this Rs 5.5 crore project has been pending with the board for a long time now.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.