Dwellers struggling to get direct water supply

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 14

Even after the passage of three years, many dwellers at Giaspura flats are waiting for direct water supply to their flats.

These flats were constructed under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for urban poor, while dwellers from various slums are being shifted to these flats since December 2014.

After the ‘failure’ of the old water supply system, the MC had got overhead water reservoir constructed and new water pipes were installed in the area. However, many residents still complained that the water does not reach their water tanks installed on roof of four-storeyed buildings in different blocks.

Infuriated over MC’s ‘disarrangements’, people are forced to get their water pumps installed on their own to make sure water reaches their water tanks. However, many people could not afford to purchase water pumps, due to which water does not reach their flats, according to occupants.

Isham Singh and his family members carry water-filled buckets to their flat located on the fourth floor of the building at Block ‘A’ every day. He claimed: “The water being supplied by the MC does not reach our water tank. I cannot afford to get a water pump installed on my own. Now, there is no water supply in our kitchen and bathroom. We carry water-filled buckets to the fourth floor in routine for last-three years.”

“My flat is located on the third floor of the building. Due to low water pressure, it does not reach our water tank. We have been suffering for the last three years, but nobody cares,” said Maur Singh.

Residents claimed that the water was supplied through newly constructed overhead water reservoir occasionally but not regularly. Whenever, they run overhead water reservoir, water gets accumulated at various places due to leakage, residents said.

Parkash, a resident of Block C, said: “A majority of people can’t purchase their own water pumps. Thus, there is no water supply to many flats in the block. If the government has given us flats, it should also ensure proper arrangement of water supply.”

Women can commonly be seen washing clothes and cleaning utensils outside flats as direct water supply to their flats is still not available. The situation is also similar at Block E, residents claimed.

Several water tanks have also broken as these were never used. The larvae of mosquitoes can be seen in a few uncovered water tanks on the roofs as rain water gets collected.

On the other hand, Junior Engineer Kamal Ram claimed that there was no problem of water supply at the flats in Blocks A, B, C and D.

“There is no problem of water supply after the construction of overhead water reservoir at all. The water easily reaches the water tanks installed on the roofs at Block A, B, C and D. Residents are levelling false allegations,” he said.

“The water does not reach water tanks on rooftops in Block E, but residents are responsible for it. People have taken connection in the wrong manner, due to which pressure of water is low. We appeal to residents to avoid making cuts on water supply pipes,” the JE said. MC’s Executive Engineer Harmesh Lal said he would look into the matter.

‘MC keeps ignoring issues’

Residents also complained about choked sewers at different blocks in Giaspura flats. Roads are not being repaired after the installation of new water supply pipes. Moreover, the civic body failed to develop a public park at Giaspura. The window panes of various flats have broken, while plaster from several walls was peeling off, residents complained.