Canal closure: City faces water shortage

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 8

The city is facing water scarcity in this hot and sultry weather due to the closure of the Sirhind canal for maintenance work.

The Irrigation Department has closed the canal till June 20, due to which the Water Supply Department has cut 20 per cent of the daily supply to the city.

However, Water Supply Department SDO Ravi Kumar said, “We have stored water in tanks to provide water supply to the city for the next 10 days. I appeal to the city residents to use water judiciously during this period.”

During the closure, the MCB is also conducting cleaning of the 1.5 MGD water treatment plant located at Growth Centre, due to which there is water problem in some areas.

However, the MCB is claiming that in areas where the supply has been hit are being provided water through tankers.

The Water Supply Department has stopped the afternoon supply in many areas.

At present, the stored water is enough to supply for 15 days, but the situation would worsen if the date of closure is extended and canal doesn’t get water on June 20 as paddy transplantation would also start from then onwards.

As much as 10.5 million gallon water is supplied to the city every day. However, these days, nine million gallon water is being supplied due to the canal closure.

The afternoon water supply to Growth Centre and Mansa road areas has been stopped.

Mayor Balwant Rai Nath has appealed to the city residents to use water judiciously to avoid its scarcity in the coming days.

He also advised residents not to use water for cleaning cars and other vehicles. He asked the residents to cooperate with the administration till June 20.

Water provided through tankers

• The Water Supply Department has cut 20 per cent of the daily supply to the city. 
• During the closure, the MCB is also conducting cleaning of the 1.5 MGD water treatment plant located at Growth Centre, due to which there is water problem in some areas.
• The MCB claims that in areas where the supply has been hit are being provided water through tankers.