Nashik Municipal Corporation’s plan to access an additional 600 million cubic feet of water from the dead storage of Gangapur dam has been delayed after the civic body received no bids for the work, with a fresh tender now expected to push the project back by at least one to two months.
The project is intended to remove rocky obstructions between the dam’s dead storage and the Nashik Municipal Corporation’s jackwell, allowing trapped water to reach the point from where raw water is drawn for treatment and distribution. The civic body had floated a tender in the last week of August to appoint an agency, setting September 21 as the deadline for bids. No contractor participated in the process.
“We had invited bids to appoint an agency for removing rock formations that are preventing access to nearly 600 mcft of water trapped in the dead storage of Gangapur dam. Despite floating the tender in the last week of August, we did not receive even a single bid,” an NMC official said.
The civic body is preparing to invite fresh bids in the next few days. According to the official, the selected agency will be required to complete the work within six months of receiving the work order. The delay means the project’s completion timeline will depend on the response to the revised tender and the date on which the contract is finally awarded.
Estimated at Rs 9.82 crore, the work involves excavating a 590-metre trench and removing a large rock formation that currently prevents water in the dead storage from reaching the jackwell. The 600 mcft reserve is expected to meet Nashik’s requirements for nearly a month once it becomes accessible, according to civic officials.
The project has assumed greater importance as Nashik prepares to host next year’s Simhastha Kumbh Mela. Three major Amrit Snans are scheduled in August and September, when the arrival of pilgrims, sadhus and other visitors is expected to increase the city’s water demand. Officials have identified the additional storage as a reserve for peak summer and periods of heightened consumption during the religious gathering.
Gangapur dam currently accounts for nearly 80% of Nashik’s water supply. Mukane and Darna dams provide the remaining share. The NMC supplies around 20 million cubic feet of water daily, including nearly 15 mcft from Gangapur dam and 5 mcft from the other two reservoirs.
The failed tender comes as the civic body faces concerns over reservoir levels, the prevailing drought situation and future rainfall patterns. NMC officials have said that accessing the trapped water would strengthen Nashik’s supply position and help ensure availability during the Kumbh Mela. The immediate next step is the issue of a fresh tender, followed by appointment of an agency and execution of the six-month work programme.
