Water tanks dry up as canal closed

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 4

The water tanks at Joggers Park have started drying up due to Sirhind Canal closure, which has resulted in water crisis in various parts of the city.

Triveni Company DGM VB Shivangi said water shortage was there in the city due to the closure of Sirhind Canal.

At present 50 per cent water supply is still being provided in the city and till December 7, the supply would continue as they have stored water in tanks, the DGM added.

He said water in the canal would be released on December 7 but still it would take two more days to resume full water supply to the households.

With a majority of areas getting rationed water supply, people are being forced to get up as early as 4 am to collect water that trickles down from taps.

Owing to the low supply of water, the pressure on the underground water is also increasing.

While the residents of low-lying areas are managing with whatever water is being supplied, it is the residents of areas located on higher platforms which are the worst hit.

Residents of areas located across the railway lines had lodged a protest against the acute shortage of water due to the canal closure.

They argued that if the canal had to be closed, it was the responsibility of the Water Works to manage the water supply.

Surprisingly, as the water tanks have dried up, the dirty water below has started coming out, but the civic body has not taken any initiative to start desilting the water tanks.

The four lakes, fed by Sirhind Canal, have not being cleaned thereby turning into eyesores due to garbage and mud in them.

MC officials claim the lakes were directly fed by the canal and the trash thrown in the canal by residents of the nearby areas and devotees flows into these tanks.

The water in the open tanks may be dirty but before being fed into the underground and overhead tanks of the Water Works, it is chlorinated and then supplied, which makes it safe for consumption.

The maintenance of the lakes is in the hands of the private firm, Triveni. The department will take up the matter with the company and make sure that the lakes are cleaned.

Four lakes not cleaned

• While the residents of low-lying areas are managing with whatever water is being supplied, it is the residents of areas located on higher platforms which are the worst hit. 
• The four lakes, fed by Sirhind Canal, have not been cleaned, thereby turning into eyesores due to garbage and mud in them.