Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation won't supply water for new projects, tells builders to make potable water arrangements for residents till it can overcome the water shortage
If you are planning to book a house in the far central suburbs of Kalyan and Dombivli, make sure you ask the builder if there is a water connection to your flat. For the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has told builders that they cannot provide water for new residential projects owing to acute water shortage. Also, till the time KDMC cannot make alternative arrangements, the builder must take care of the drinking water needs of residents, the civic agency said.
High and dry: The unavailability of water for new constructions in Kalyan-Dombivli has builders complaining that the real estate business will be hit. Representation picu00a0
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KDMC Commissioner Ramnath Sonawane said, “We have informed the builders that KDMC isn’t in a position to cater to the demands of upcoming projects. Only after informing them that we won’t be able to provide them water at present do we give them the go-ahead for construction. Till the time arrangements are made, the builder should make necessary water arrangements for residents who have started staying in the new projects.”
KDMC has a population of nearly 12.46 lakh and the daily water requirement is 260 mld, of which only 240 mld is available. “KDMC has a reserve of 140-145 mld. The remaining 117 mld is supposed to be made available from the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corridor (MIDC) but it gives only 97 mld. Thus, at certain areas, we aren’t able to supply water,” said Sonawane. He mentioned two projects to overcome water scarcity for the coming 25 years. “Our two projects will be started in May. In the next one to two years, there would be no water shortage in this area,” said Sonawane.
‘Will dry up sales’
But for now, the announcement from the civic authority is a huge irritant for builders. Shrikant Shitole, secretary, MCHI-Kalyan Dombivli unit, said, “The corporation can’t move away from its basic duties of providing water and infrastructure. We will talk to our members and make proper representation to resolve the issue soon. This will affect the real estate business in these suburbs, because people, especially the middle and the upper middle classes, are now coming to live here.”
Another builder on the condition of anonymity said, “If the government cannot provide us with the barest of necessities, why is it giving us any form of permissions? Just to meet its revenue targets and collect money?” u00a0
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