Pune: The municipal commissioner came down hard on car wash centres in Pune and imposed a total ban on drinking water and ground water being used for vehicle washing purposes. Taking serious cognisance to the current water shortage in the city as a result of low levels in the four dams that supply the city, Mahesh Pathak issued a written order, copy with MiD DAY, to all concerned departments in the civic body to take immediate stern measures to stop misuse of drinking, as well as bore well water by these establishments.
All 1,200 such centres were sent directives advising against wastage of potable water, or face stern action under the relevant section of the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act 1949. “As the water situation is still grave with low water levels at Temghar, Panshet, Warasgaon and Khadakwasala, we are taking all the required measures under Section 67 (3-C) of the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation (BPMC) Act 1949. The order was issued to all the washing centres in the city,” Pathak said.
He added that a ban has already been imposed on the use of drinking water for vehicle washing and now a total ban has been imposed even on the use of ground water for such purposes. “Anyone found guilty of breaching the order will be punished as per the law. Enforcement of the ban has already begun in the city. Similarly, a ban has been imposed on the usage of water for construction purposes under the same act,” Pathak said. The municipal commissioner said that the decision to send water from the four dams to Daund region was also revoked.
“The water level situation at the four dams has been improving, but there is still a need to continue the present 20 per cent water cut for in the city and judicial use of water is still advised,” Pathak said. V G Kulkarni, additional city engineer, water supply, PMC, said, “Action against errant car washing centres is in progress and it will continue till the water scarcity situation is improves.” Rajesh Jagtap, state president Janata Dal (United), who first raised the issue of drinking water being misused, has welcomed the municipal commissioner’s move.
He said, “I personally met the municipal commissioner and handed over our written demand to stop the misuse of water at high-pressure washing centres, to which he promptly agreed.” Jagtap added that Pathak issued a written order to additional municipal commissioner (General and Estates), city engineer, additional city engineer (Building and Construction Department) and all four deputy municipal commissioners from the four municipal zones.
Not yet in safe zone
Water level at four dams in the city on Sunday (July 22): 4.64 TMC Shivaji Bolbhat, executive engineer with irrigation department said, “The water situation is still not good, as we need at least 12 TMC water to provide to the city as well as the agriculture sector in the vicinity.”
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