Municipal water runs down your taps 24X7! Well, at a time when most civic corporations are still struggling to meet the daily water requirements of their teeming population, the Guntur Municipal Corporation has gone ahead and is making ground for implementing 24X7 water supply in select parts of the city.
The GMC, which has augmented the existing water supply to 120 MLD with the laying of second water pipeline from Takkellapadu filtration plant to reservoirs at B.R Stadium, Nallacehruvu and LB Nagar, is planning to supply water round the clock in select areas as a pilot project.
“We will introduce the concept in a phased manner. The 24X7 water supply is a premium service and will be made available on demand. The service will be introduced in phases in residential and commercial areas,'' Municipal Commissioner K. Ilambarithi told The Hindu on Thursday. Dr. Ilambarithi is leaving on a three-day tour to Dharwad Municipal Corporation in Hubli district in Karnataka on Friday to study the concept. Dharwad is the first corporation in the country to introduce round-the-clock service.
The GMC, which has recently laid a direct water line measuring up to 12 inches diameter to LB Nagar reservoir, is confident that the idea will catch on.
Water metering
But the civic officials are also wary of the impending political storm if water metering is introduced.
It is mandatory for effective implementation of 24X7 water supply. Unless supply of water is quantified, there can be no justification for round-the-clock supply of water.
“We will not talk about metering of water for now, let's see its feasibility first,'' said the Commissioner.
