Residents up in arms over acute water shortage, stage protest

Bathinda, December 9

Former councillor and SAD leader Vijay Kumar , along with city residents, today staged a protest by playing musical instruments in front of water taps at Paras Ram Nagar Chowk over the acute shortage of water in the city due to the closure of Sirhind Canal.

They alleged that despite bringing the issue to the notice of the officials concerned, nothing has been done.

Several areas in the city are reeling under the scarcity of drinking water for the past several days as the canal has been closed for cleaning.

Long queues of people coming to get potable water were seen in front of the RO systems, installed in each ward. He questioned why appropriate arrangements were not made before the closure of the Sirhind Canal.

It is pertinent to mention that the water crisis has intensified in the city as water has not been released into the Sirhind canal yet. It is learned that closure of water supply to the canal has been extended.

Earlier, the canal was closed till December 7, but now it is expected that the city will receive water only by December 13.

The city has a requirement of 61 MLD daily but gets only 47 MLD on normal days. With the closure of the canal, the supply has drastically gone down. Due to this, the water supply department is providing the supply on alternative days and that also only 50 per cent of the requirement. — TNS