PUNE: Residents of Aundh, Pashan Road, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Khadki and Bopodi can expect an adequate supply of potable water in the near future, with the Pune Municipal Corporation commissioning a 60-lakh-litre overhead water tank in Aundh.The proposal to build the tank in Aundh was under consideration for many years but the project failed to take off for want of land. Local MLA Vijay Kale, along with corporators and PMC officials, recently held the ground-breaking ceremony of the water tank after hurdles in its construction were removed.The facility is expected to come up within six months. It will be the third overhead tank in the area. PMC said that the facility was necessary to meet the increased demand for drinking water following rise in population and development of new residential colonies. Currently, two tanks, which have a collective capacity of 1.3 crore litre ,s supply water in the area.While justifying the construction of an additional facility, Kale said that the new facility will help bring down complaints of inadequate supply.Kale said that the project did not pick up pace due to technical reasons and non-availability of land. The matter was followed up with the state government for last two years. The land on which the tank is being built was in possession of the state police department. A meeting was held in March with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to expedite the process of handing over the land to PMC. Fadnavis had directed the state home department to complete the formalities at the earliest, Kale said.PMC sources said that the police department had sought an alternative land in lieu of the plot where the water tank is being built.PMC has assured to provide a plot reserved under the amenity space to the police department.Local residents said the low lying areas receive adequate water supply, however, those areas located uphill often face shortage of water.Meanwhile, officials in PMC’s water supply department said that they were sure of completing the work within the deadline. The officials said that the contractors have already been appointed. The ground work would begin in the next few days.A senior official said, “Though two tanks are already distributing water, there was no alternative in case both tanks faced any technical problem. The third tank is coming up on a plot adjacent to the existing two tanks,” he said.

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