Fresh hurdle for PHED in giving water connection

Jaipur: The public health and engineering department (PHED) faces fresh hurdle in providing water connections to multi-storeyed apartments in the city as finance department has raised objections against seeking loan from the Centre.
On a pilot basis, the PHED has proposed to supply drinking water for multi-storey buildings in Bapu Nagar, Civil Lines, Bani Park and Adarsh Nagar.To initiate the project, the department had applied for Rs 72 crore loan from the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB). However, residents staying in multi-storeyed have to wait for longer period as the state finance department has raised several objections.
A PHED engineer said, "We will soon send the reply of objections raised by the finance department. It has asked about the existing loan on PHED taken from NCRPB board. Explanation has also sought that how it would be beneficial for general public."
Recently, the PHED had proposed to reduce the charges for providing water connections by Rs 20 per square feet in highrise buildings. The PHED had earlier proposed that residents staying or individuals buying flats should pay Rs 62 per square feet of the built-up area for laying a pipeline from the nearest pump-house to the building concerned. However, to provide further relief to the residents, PHED minister Kiran Maheshwari constituted a four-member committee, which has proposed to levy Rs 42 per square feet.
Under the pilot project, the PHED assessed the expenditure of providing water to multi-storey buildings. Taking a cue from Delhi's water department, PHED has prepared a self-finance scheme model. "Though its a self-finance scheme model, the department requires capital to update the infrastructure to supply water. Generation of revenue from the consumers is long-term process," said an engineer.
The department requires initial capital as it has developed infrastructure for transmission and distribution of water from Bisalpur. As per the previous proposal, the PHED department had proposed to levy this cost on residents staying in residents. However, to provide relief to residents, it was later proposed the state government should bear this cost. The proposal has been forwarded to the chief secretary for approval," said an official.
Currently, PHED has infrastructure to supply water only to 'ground-plus-two floors' category of buildings. With an increase in number of high-rises in residential localities, the demand for water connections has been growing at a faster pace over the past few years.