PMC panel gives thumbs up to water meter system

Post-Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) standing committee’s decision to introduce water meters in the city, municipal commissioner Mahesh Pathak claimed that it was necessary for “protection of environment”.

The standing panel on Wednesday had approved the proposal to fit 3 lakh water meters in the city, to ensure equal distribution of water and check leakage losses. Pathak had said that the introduction of meter was one of the compulsory reforms to get central funds for the phase II of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

According to the proposal, water meters would be installed only in housing societies and not in slums.

Independent corporator Ujjwal Keskar claimed that introduction of water meter was not a mandatory reform, and the civic administration had failed to implement more pertinent reforms like double entry audit and e-governance.

Regarding the meter installation charges, Pathak said, “The primary responsibility of fitting any meter lies with the consumer. However, the final decision on installation cost would be taken later.”

Standing committee chairman Ganesh Bidkar claimed that the civic body would approach the Centre for providing funds for installation of water meters.

Pathak and Bidkar said that the tamper-proof, low-maintenance meters would be the first step towards the ambitious 24x7 water supply scheme of the civic body.