Aqua-demand trebles supply in Mohali

Akash Ghai
Tribune News Service
Mohali, May 21

Mohali continues to reel under severe water shortage as the demand is treble the supply.

At present, the township is receiving 13 MGD water whereas the demand is over 35 MGD. An additional supply of 5 MGD is expected through a new pipeline of Phase 5 and 6 from the Kajauli waterworks but it would take time as construction of the main pumping station and water treatment plant at Sinhpur village as well as work to lay a pipeline from the plant to the town are yet to begin. It is estimated that the residents would have to bear with the shortage for at least another year.

“About 35 acres have already been acquired in the village for the new water treatment and pumping station and tendering process for construction of a 20 MGD plant is underway. The decision to lay the new pipeline and finalising its layout would be undertaken after the construction of the plant begins,” said Sunil Kansal, Chief Engineer, GMADA.

Councillor Satvir Singh Dhanoa said, “The demand of drinking water rose three times in the past few years while the supply remains the same,” said Dhanoa.

Pointing out that people living in upper storeys were hit hard, Seema Sharma, a resident of Phase 7, said poor water supply upset daily chores and activities such as washing clothes or cleaning the premises.

The tricity gets 80 MGD water through Phase 1, 2, 3 and 4 pipelines of the Kajauli waterworks. The supply is shared between Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula and Chandimandir Cantonment as per the 1983 water-sharing arrangement.

Town gets 13 MGD water

Mohali gets 10 MGD water from the Phase 1, 2, 3 and 4 pipelines of the Kajauli waterworks while the remaining 3 MGD water comes from tubewells being run by the MC.