Times of India: Aurangabad: Thursday, 11 April 2024.
The civic body has spent around Rs 3 crore towards general maintenance of the main water pipeline that carries water from Jayakwadi dam to the city in three financial years between 2020-21 and 2022-23.
The expense figures, which were revealed by the civic authorities for the first time in response to a query under the RTI Act, has raised many eyebrows with members of the civil society seeking more details.
The RTI query concerned filed by citizen Suraj Ajmera reveals an expenditure of Rs 1.3 crore towards maintenance of the main pipeline in 2020-21, Rs 99.8 lakh in 2021-22 and Rs 63.8 lakh in 2022-23.
Ajmera said spending nearly Rs 3 crore for maintenance is a huge amount. “The authorities must shed more light on details of spending. Details would give a better idea on the maintenance part of the main pipeline,” he said.
Civic activist Somnath Shirane said huge maintenance cost of the main pipeline calls for an inquiry. “The maintenance involves fixing leakages using welding, repairing of vales and other minor works. Spending Rs 3 crore towards these things is definitely surprising,” he said.
Deputy engineer with the water supply department of the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation (CSMC) Kiran Dhande was not available for comments when contacted over the phone. Another civic official said the maintenance expenditure is justified as the pipeline has become too old.
“As the new pipeline is scheduled to get ready in the next eight months, we hope that maintenance cost will be minimal,” he said.
The civic body has spent around Rs 3 crore towards general maintenance of the main water pipeline that carries water from Jayakwadi dam to the city in three financial years between 2020-21 and 2022-23.
The expense figures, which were revealed by the civic authorities for the first time in response to a query under the RTI Act, has raised many eyebrows with members of the civil society seeking more details.
The RTI query concerned filed by citizen Suraj Ajmera reveals an expenditure of Rs 1.3 crore towards maintenance of the main pipeline in 2020-21, Rs 99.8 lakh in 2021-22 and Rs 63.8 lakh in 2022-23.
Ajmera said spending nearly Rs 3 crore for maintenance is a huge amount. “The authorities must shed more light on details of spending. Details would give a better idea on the maintenance part of the main pipeline,” he said.
Civic activist Somnath Shirane said huge maintenance cost of the main pipeline calls for an inquiry. “The maintenance involves fixing leakages using welding, repairing of vales and other minor works. Spending Rs 3 crore towards these things is definitely surprising,” he said.
Deputy engineer with the water supply department of the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation (CSMC) Kiran Dhande was not available for comments when contacted over the phone. Another civic official said the maintenance expenditure is justified as the pipeline has become too old.
“As the new pipeline is scheduled to get ready in the next eight months, we hope that maintenance cost will be minimal,” he said.
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