The convenience of having treated drinking water supply round the clock may not become a reality in the city. The proposal, which is more than 10 years old, has again been shelved.
Though the proposal welcomed by all, the issue of water meter to every connection has pushed the initiative back.
Way back in 2007, the civic body proposed to implement the plan in a few municipal divisions as a pilot project using the funds of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme. It was dropped following opposition from the political parties and the public.
Later in 2016, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation was selected for the 24x7 supply project sponsored by the Central government’s Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme and the State government. The civic body planned to implement the project in at least 20 divisions hoping that it could overhaul the old supply system.
“Due to non-cooperation from the elected representatives, the project has almost been shelved. They have expressed concern over resistance from the public on the water meters,” an engineering official told The Hindu .
Also, the proposal was not approved in the municipal council. The meters would put an end to wastage in households.
The project estimated to cost ₹111 crore will cover 30,000 connections in municipal divisions in the three circles. Such a project is under implementation in Nagpur.
Municipal Administration Minister P. Narayana, while laying stone for a water treatment plant here recently, asked the VMC officials to implement the project in Vijayawada which is a part of Amaravati.
