Good news for the residents of the high-rises and residential complexes in the state as they can soon expect to get pipeline water supply directly to their taps from the public health and engineering department (PHED).
On Monday, PHED minister Mahesh Joshi has announced that the policy to transfer pipeline water to high-rises and residential complexes in the city will be implemented by Diwali.
“The draft of the proposal is ready. The government needs to give the final nod and then this policy would be officially implemented,” said Amitabh Sharma, additional chief engineer (urban) PHED.
At present, all these residents rely mainly on the groundwater sources.
However, PHED on Tuesday officially denied any comment on the proposed tariff for laying down the pipelines (providing connections) and water bills (for uses) fixed in the draft.
There had been many speculations on this when PHED first issued a circular on November 30, 2016 to provide water connections to high-rises at Rs 42 per square feet and then, again on October 6, 2020, at Rs 25 per square feet under the Jagatpura Mahal Road Water Supply project.
Mahesh Joshi said that the final tariff has not been decided as of now.
“This week, we would have talks with all stakeholders and finalise the rates. Hopefully, the finance department would also accept the rate proposed by us. I can say that we are trying to fix a tariff that is affordable for all,” the minister assured.
As per the norms, public health and engineering department would charge for laying over the pipelines from the main supply pipelines till the high rises or complexes. Residents or builders need to arrange the supply lines from there to the individual flats.
“Unlike electricity bills, water bills won’t come in name of respective flat owners. We would raise one single bill for a particular society. Residents need to distribute the share among themselves and pay us,” added Sharma.
Officials assured, other technical issues like bigger pipelines for high rises (normally PHED don’t use these for individual houses), had been taken care of.
