Aurangabad to ban use of freshwater for construction activities

The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation in Maharashtra has decided to ban the use of freshwater for construction activities to tide over water scarcity in Marathwada’s largest city. Commissioner Aastik Kumar Pandey told the media that the Aurangabad civic body would also seek three million litres per day (MLD) additional water supply from the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). Pandey said a 30-point programme will be executed to manage water supply, adding that not much had been done to boost the city’s water supply mechanism and capacity over the last three to four years. The authority has decided to ban the use of freshwater for construction activity in AMC boundaries to tide over water scarcity. It will be compulsory to use water from sewage treatment plants for at least the next two to three months, he said. Restrictions can be brought on swimming pools if required, but the municipal corporation does not want to upset the gradual return of the city to normalcy post the Covid-19 pandemic, he said. The administration has started a plan to obtain private and government-controlled wells. Guardian officers will be assigned to keep a watch on linemen who are liable for proper water supply, Pandey said. Aurangabad Divisional Commissioner Sunil Kendrekar issued instructions to speedily finish the water supply works at Harsul Lake. A Shiv Sena representative had met Pandey during the day over the water suffering of people in the city. Image Source Also read: Bombay HC to monitor Aurangabad water supply project progress