Idle Since 2018, NIBM and BT Kawade Road Water Tanks Await Activation; Prashant Jagtap Vows Swift Action
Idle Since 2018, NIBM and BT Kawade Road Water Tanks Await Activation; Prashant Jagtap Vows Swift Action
Five overhead water tanks built in 2018 in the NIBM Road and BT Kawade Road areas continue to stand unused, highlighting a long-standing civic issue that has affected thousands of residents. These tanks, developed under the ambitious 24×7 water supply project, were designed with storage capacities ranging from 20 to 50 lakh litres and were part of a broader city plan that sanctioned 103 overhead tanks in total.
Despite the completion of construction, the infrastructure was never activated due to a combination of administrative delays, unresolved contractor disputes, and technical challenges.
As a result, residents of NIBM Road, Kondhwa, and BT Kawade Road — some of the city’s fastest-growing residential pockets — continue to rely heavily on tanker water. This dependency persists even as fully constructed overhead tanks stand unused, leaving citizens frustrated over the lack of progress. The situation has resurfaced prominently ahead of the upcoming municipal elections, with former mayor Prashant Jagtap making the issue central to his campaign.
Jagtap criticised the prolonged inaction, stating that the delay has deprived thousands of households of equitable and stable water access. He added that the NIBM region returned under a proper ward system only after 13 years, and the absence of an elected civic body since 2022 has further slowed decision-making. He expressed concern that essential civic projects — especially those aimed at long-term water security — were left in limbo under administrative rule.
If elected, Jagtap has vowed to prioritise the activation of these overhead tanks and streamline the remaining technical and administrative procedures required to make them functional. He assured residents that his primary goal is to eliminate tanker dependency in the NIBM–Kondhwa belt by operationalising the long-pending water storage facilities. According to him, activating these tanks is not only feasible but crucial for ensuring fair and consistent water distribution in rapidly expanding neighbourhoods.
The delay in utilisation was also compounded by contractor-related hurdles and the Covid-19 pandemic, which pushed back several civic initiatives across Pune. With elections approaching, citizens now hope for swift action that will finally bring these long-idle water tanks into service.
