Nagpur: Amid a worrying decline in regional water reserves and fears of a severe water crisis this summer, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation has begun seriously considering postponing the implementation of Phase 5 of its ambitious cement-concrete road project.
₹900-crore project requires millions of litres of water
The infrastructure project, valued at around ₹900 crore, requires millions of litres of water for concrete mixing, layering and daily curing. The city cannot afford this when the civic administration is struggling to safeguard drinking water supplies.
Senior officials have clarified that no formal decision to halt the project has been taken yet, but serious discussions are leaning towards postponement.
Municipal engineer confirms review
The Executive Engineer’s Office of the civic body’s Public Works Department confirmed that the department is actively reviewing the situation and that Phase 5 of the cement road project may be postponed.
The office said the final decision would take into account the large quantities of water required for extensive concreting, adding that ensuring the availability of drinking water is the administration’s foremost priority.
Lowest rainfall in 18 years
Nagpur district recorded its lowest monsoon rainfall in 18 years, leaving key reservoirs supplying the urban centre, including the Pench and Kanhan networks, at a critical 58% storage level.
Civic teams have proposed heavy fines of up to ₹5,000 for the misuse of drinking water. Supplying water tankers for construction would therefore run counter to water conservation directives.
Original proposal covered 135 roads
Phase 5 originally envisaged converting 135 major asphalt roads, spread across 89.22 kilometres in nine civic zones, into concrete roads. Following recommendations from local legislators and corporators, the proposal grew to around 265 roads.
The major allocations included Ashi Nagar, covering 16.49 kilometres across 22 roads, Dharampeth at 15.36 kilometres and Lakadganj at 13.33 kilometres. Based on Phase 4, the blueprint also included roadside stormwater drains and groundwater recharge pits.
Work may wait for reservoir improvement
With taps already running dry in several wards, the administrative consensus is to keep major road works suspended until inflows into the reservoirs improve by the next monsoon.
