Pune: The recent detection of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) cases in Pune and across the state had caused widespread concern. It has now been confirmed that contaminated water was the primary cause of the outbreak. In response, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to set up a water purification project worth ₹250 crore to provide clean drinking water to affected areas. The plant will have a capacity of 100 million liters per day (MLD) and will be constructed on land provided by the Water Resources Department, according to PMC Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale.
The newly merged villages of Nanded, Nandoshi, Kirkatwadi, and surrounding areas receive their water supply from wells in Nanded and Barangani Mala in Dhayari. The raw, untreated water from Khadakwasla Dam is released into these wells through an enclosed pipeline. Until now, the PMC had been treating the water by simply adding bleaching powder before distributing it to these villages.
However, as the highest number of GBS cases were detected in this region, authorities conducted water quality tests, which confirmed that contaminated water was the cause of the outbreak. As a result, the PMC’s Health Department has issued an official notice to the Water Supply Department, demanding immediate action to provide clean drinking water.
To address this crisis, the PMC has already installed chlorination systems at both affected wells. Additionally, plans for the new water purification plant are being expedited, and follow-up actions are being taken to ensure its timely completion.
The cost estimation (preliminary budget) for the project is currently being prepared and will be submitted for approval in the next Preliminary Estimate Committee meeting. Once approved, the tendering process will begin.
As per regulations, the PMC is responsible for supplying water to villages located within a 5-km radius of newly merged areas. Since 2000, the PMC has been supplying water to Nanded, Nandoshi, Kirkatwadi, DSK Vishva, parts of Narhe, and nearby areas. However, this water has been untreated. Even after these villages were officially merged into the PMC limits in 2021, they continued to receive the same untreated water supply. In light of the GBS outbreak, the PMC has now decided to construct a dedicated water purification plant for these villages. Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale stated that efforts are being made to begin work on the project as soon as possible.
Initially, the PMC had proposed supplying purified water to these villages from its existing treatment plant in Vadgaon Budruk. However, due to practical constraints, it was decided to establish a new localized water purification facility.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, during a District Planning Committee meeting, had instructed authorities to prioritize the project. In the same meeting, he also approved a ₹500 crore budget allocation for the overall water supply infrastructure for these villages. Furthermore, the Water Resources Department has agreed to provide land for the project, based on which the proposal has been prepared.
