Replace old pumps at Kajauli waterworks, Mohali aks UT

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, August 27

As water woes continue to affect the residents of Chandigarh, the Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Department in Mohali is approaching the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC) for replacement of old pumps at the Kajauli waterworks.

“We have prepared an estimate of Rs 1.5 crore for installation of three new pumps at Phase 1 in Kajauli. The estimate is being sent to the Chandigarh MC,” a department official said. “Even zero velocity valves, the multi-functional device for controlling water flow, needs to be changed,” he said.

According to the department officials, a new pump was installed in Phase 1 pipeline in 2006 and two new pumps were installed in 2008.

“The stipulated life of a pump is 15 years if they are run for eight hours a day. However, our pumps are running 24 hours a day. This implies that their life is reduced to just five years,” a source said.

Consequently, the pumps should have been replaced in 2011 and 2013. Using equipment beyond the stated lifespan invariably results in serviceability and maintenance issues. Punjab is responsible for the maintenance of Phase 1, 2 and 4 pipelines of the waterworks, while the Chandigarh Administration is responsible for Phase 3 pipeline.

The zero velocity valve is also non-operational and the dewatering pump is also unserviceable due to which the flow of water cannot be stopped or draining out of water from the pumping chamber cannot be done. “These equipment help in expediting any repair work that needs to be undertaken,” an official said. “If the water flow cannot be reduced or stopped, or water is not drained out, the task becomes more tedious,” he said.

A zero velocity valve’s procurement and installation cost is about Rs 15 lakh. “We had written to the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation to take up the issue on priority and also sent them reminders on the same,” a source said.

Reason for water crisis in Chandigarh

Chandigarh is facing water crisis because the dewatering pumps at the Kajauli waterworks pump house broke down. This led to water accumulation in the pump house due to which water supply from Phases 3 and 4 had to be suspended. Sources said the Phase 3 supply line has not been running to full capacity as it was facing recurring leakage problems due to which the supply in the pipelines had to be shut down every now and then.