Water supply set to decline further

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 24

The water supply in the city is set to be hit in the coming days as the Irrigation Department has stopped the water flow in Sirhind Canal.

The canal has not got supply for the past few days due to the construction of a bridge at Rampura.

From February 26, the department will close Sirhind Canal for around 20-25 days for cleaning.

The Water Supply Department has water storage capacity for seven days and after that water will be provided through tube-wells installed near the canal.

This canal closure will also affect the Holi celebrations.

The affects of the closure were seen in the city today as the department cut the supply of water.

Residents received less water as compared to normal days and in the coming days, there will be more shortage.

Those residing in higher areas, which face water shortage during normal days as well, are the worst hit.

Though many parts of the city are getting irregular and rationed water supply, residents remain watchful at night to get water for their needs.

The inadequate water supply has forced the residents to rely on underground water.

Bathinda is well known for its contaminated underground water.

Many residents have installed motors to get underground water but it is not fit for human consumption.

Nisha Garg, a city resident, said, “It is a difficult situation. Many of us have installed motors to pump out underground water but it is not fit to consume. In the absence of water supply from the Public Works Department, we have to depend on the RO water treatment plants installed nearby.”

An SDO at the Irrigation Department said at present, the water in the Sirhind Canal had been stopped due to the construction of a bridge at Rampura.

Senior deputy mayor Tarsem Goyal has appealed to the residents not to waste water in the wake of the closure of Sirhind Canal.