State cancer hospital gets only 3% of its water quota
AURANGABAD: Barely one-and-half-year since the first Government Cancer Hospital (GCH) in Marathwada was inaugurated; it is facing severe water supply problems as it receives barely three percent of its daily requirement from the civic body.
The hospital, which was built at a cost of Rs 50 crore, gets water supply at very low pressure every two days, like the rest of Aurangabad city. The supply of 5000-10,000 litres once in two days is woefully short of daily requirement of almost two lakh litres.
While the hospital administration relies on private water tankers for their daily needs, the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has blamed the Public Works Department (PWD) for failing to inform them about the water requirement during the construction of the premises.
To add to the hospital authorities woes, the AMC issued a notice a few days back asking them to pay pending water bills of Rs 51,69,167 since September 2012 based on the 8-inch pipeline water connection. The hospital authorities replied to the notice by requesting the civic body to charge as per the meter reading.
The hospital requires about two lakh litres of water every day and has to rely on tankers. The hospital had to hire at least 5-6 tankers of 10,000 litres capacity every day and incur the expense of about Rs one lakh per month.
"Though an independent water supply pipeline of 8 inches has been laid, the water is supplied by the AMC in low pressure. The hospital receives only 5000-10,000 litres of water every second day, the civic body should reconsider the charges levied," hospital authorities said.
"Moreover, the meter at the hospital has been non-functional since it was installed. We have repeatedly requested the civic body to repair the meter and levy charges as per the readings. But, the civic body officials told us to get the water supply arrangement done from the PWD instead of approaching the AMC," hospital authorities alleged.
"In spite of repeated pleas to consider the revision of water bills, the civic body is stern in its move and has demanded the hospital to clear the bills after which the meter would be repaired," said hospital sources.
Hospital authorities said that they had also requested the civic body to lay a separate pipeline from Harsul lake, which is two kilometre away from the hospital premises. "They are citing financial crisis and have asked the hospital to bear the financial burden. Since this comes under emergency services, it should be treated with priority," said a hospital official.
AMC's executive engineer Hemant Kohle said, "The PWD should have consulted and informed about the hospital's water requirement to the civic body before developing the project. Unfortunately, this did not happen. Moreover, the area where the hospital is located faces water scarcity and the civic body manages to provide water to the area from Harsul Lake. The meter installed by the PWD too is non-functional and the responsibility lies with the PWD to maintain it. If the hospital gets the meter repaired we would definitely levy the charges as per the meter reading."
Kohle assured, "The proposal to connect the water supply pipeline to the main line at Jubilee Park has been sanctioned and the estimate of the work has been prepared. The work will start soon and the hospital's water problem will be solved."
Daily Requirement: 2 lakh litres
AMC Supply: 5000-10,000 litres every two days
Water through tankers: 4-5 tankers of 10,000 litres capacity per day
Budget on tankers: Rs One lakh per month
BOX:
Cancer hospital gets independent ambulance
Read More Here - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/aurangabad/State-cancer-hospital-gets-only-3-of-its-water-quota/articleshow/31445387.cms
The hospital, which was built at a cost of Rs 50 crore, gets water supply at very low pressure every two days, like the rest of Aurangabad city. The supply of 5000-10,000 litres once in two days is woefully short of daily requirement of almost two lakh litres.
While the hospital administration relies on private water tankers for their daily needs, the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has blamed the Public Works Department (PWD) for failing to inform them about the water requirement during the construction of the premises.
To add to the hospital authorities woes, the AMC issued a notice a few days back asking them to pay pending water bills of Rs 51,69,167 since September 2012 based on the 8-inch pipeline water connection. The hospital authorities replied to the notice by requesting the civic body to charge as per the meter reading.
The hospital requires about two lakh litres of water every day and has to rely on tankers. The hospital had to hire at least 5-6 tankers of 10,000 litres capacity every day and incur the expense of about Rs one lakh per month.
"Though an independent water supply pipeline of 8 inches has been laid, the water is supplied by the AMC in low pressure. The hospital receives only 5000-10,000 litres of water every second day, the civic body should reconsider the charges levied," hospital authorities said.
"Moreover, the meter at the hospital has been non-functional since it was installed. We have repeatedly requested the civic body to repair the meter and levy charges as per the readings. But, the civic body officials told us to get the water supply arrangement done from the PWD instead of approaching the AMC," hospital authorities alleged.
"In spite of repeated pleas to consider the revision of water bills, the civic body is stern in its move and has demanded the hospital to clear the bills after which the meter would be repaired," said hospital sources.
Hospital authorities said that they had also requested the civic body to lay a separate pipeline from Harsul lake, which is two kilometre away from the hospital premises. "They are citing financial crisis and have asked the hospital to bear the financial burden. Since this comes under emergency services, it should be treated with priority," said a hospital official.
AMC's executive engineer Hemant Kohle said, "The PWD should have consulted and informed about the hospital's water requirement to the civic body before developing the project. Unfortunately, this did not happen. Moreover, the area where the hospital is located faces water scarcity and the civic body manages to provide water to the area from Harsul Lake. The meter installed by the PWD too is non-functional and the responsibility lies with the PWD to maintain it. If the hospital gets the meter repaired we would definitely levy the charges as per the meter reading."
Kohle assured, "The proposal to connect the water supply pipeline to the main line at Jubilee Park has been sanctioned and the estimate of the work has been prepared. The work will start soon and the hospital's water problem will be solved."
Daily Requirement: 2 lakh litres
AMC Supply: 5000-10,000 litres every two days
Water through tankers: 4-5 tankers of 10,000 litres capacity per day
Budget on tankers: Rs One lakh per month
BOX:
Cancer hospital gets independent ambulance
Read More Here - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/aurangabad/State-cancer-hospital-gets-only-3-of-its-water-quota/articleshow/31445387.cms