Nashik: Frustration over the city’s erratic water supply spilled into the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) general body meeting on Wednesday with corporators from across party lines, including members of the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena, sharply criticizing the administration and demanding immediate corrective measures.The issue triggered heated discussions in the House, prompting mayor Himgauri Aher and civic chief Manisha Khatri to issue strict directives to the water supply department and set deadlines for resolving long-pending problems.Taking serious note of the complaints, the mayor directed the officials to prepare a scientific water distribution schedule, conduct a detailed assessment of every elevated water reservoir in the city, and deploy staff on a ward-wise basis to improve monitoring.The administration has been asked to submit a reservoir management plan within 10 days and a detailed roadmap of alternative arrangements within 15 days to ensure uninterrupted water supply.According to the corporators, residents in several localities remain uncertain about when water will be supplied, how long the supply will last, and the quantity of water available in individual reservoirs. Members also raised concerns over uneven distribution caused by valve operations, through which water is often redirected from one area to another.To eliminate such confusion, the administration has been instructed to prepare a separate chart for every reservoir, specifying the areas to be supplied, quantity of water to be distributed, and timings of supply.With the festive season approaching, elected representatives stressed that the residents must not be left struggling for drinking water. The civic administration was directed to immediately increase the number of water tankers wherever required. Corporators maintained that even if tanker expenditure rises, ensuring access to drinking water should remain the corporation’s top priority. They also warned that complaints regarding the non-availability of tankers from any ward should not recur.During the discussion, Khatri summoned Smart City official Sumant More and junior engineers to the house and pulled them up over the long pending projects. She instructed engineers to strengthen field-level supervision and ensure that water connections are shifted to newly laid pipelines wherever works have been completed.According to her, executive engineers should focus on resolving issues on the ground rather than limiting themselves to administrative discussions.Khatri admitted that some elevated water reservoirs across the city remain incomplete even after nearly three years. In some areas, main pipeline connections are yet to be provided, while in others water fails to reach consumers despite completed connections. A comprehensive review of such pending works will be carried out along with contractors, she said.The commissioner further warned of action against negligent officials and said valve operators may be transferred where necessary. Contact numbers of responsible personnel will also be made public to improve transparency and accountability.She reiterated that the delayed direct water pipeline project from Gangapur Dam to the Bara Bungalow water treatment plant would be completed by the end of Oct. The civic body is also constructing a new 272 MLD water treatment plant at Vilholi. Once operational, the additional capacity is expected to permanently resolve water supply problems in areas such as Pavan Nagar.