With summer, water woes return

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 20

With the advent of summer, city residents have started facing a shortage of water despite the fact that the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has been claiming of providing round-the-clock water supply this season.

In many parts of the city, residents complained of low water pressure and also of not getting supply as per schedule. The problem started five to seven days ago.

At some places, the water supply is stopped at 7.45 am or 8.30 am. Even in the evening, water is supplied from 5.45 pm to 6 pm.

Those living on upper floors of houses are not getting proper water supply. Whereas, in October last year, the MC had declared to provide water from 3 am to 9 am and 5.30 pm to 9 pm.

“We live on the ground floor but face low water pressure. The water supply does not reach even the first floor. In the morning, water is supplied from 5 am to 8. 30 am,” Dr GC Bansal, a retired professor and a resident of Sector 18.

Rakesh Kanojia, a resident of Sector 22, said, “The water supply has been poor for the past a few days in our area. Those residing on the first floor are the worst hit as the water pressure remains low. They are forced to fetch water from the ground floor.”

A Sector 27 resident, Mohinder Pal, added that water was being supplied till 7.30 am in the morning. The other day, water was not supplied in the evening. Sharing this concern, Sector 61 resident VK Bector said not just the water supply, the electricity supply was in an awful state in their area.

Commenting on the same, Baljinder Singh Bittu, chairman, Federation of Sector Welfare Associations of Chandigarh (FOSWAC), said, “The problem is acute in Sector 21-A where residents do not receive water after 7.30 am in morning. The MC must work on this as people are feeling harassed. They are only trying to befool people by falsely claiming to provide wound-the-clock water supply from April 30.”

The MC supplies 83 million gallons daily (MGD). However, the demand has reached around 90 MGD. In the peak summer season, it rises to 110-115 MGD.

An official in the Water Supply Department said there was no general shortage of water. “It is affected due to some fault at the Kajauli waterworks sometimes,” he said.

Mayor Davesh Moudgil said, “There is more demand of water during summer and we will regulate the supply. I also appeal to the residents to check water wastage. We have promised uninterrupted water supply. I will visit the Kajauli waterworks in a day or two to ensure additional water from April 30.”

The demand

Total supply: 83 MGD
Present demand: 90 MGD
In peak season: 110-115 MGD