IPH dept 'apathetic' as leaking pipes damage Palampur roads

Water getting wasted, locals a harried lot

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“As per norms notified by the state government, the minimum depth of the pipes should be one feet but these norms have openly been flouted by the IPH department,” — A retired Chief Engineer

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, October 17

Despite repeated requests by the state Public Works Department (PWD) to the Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) department for the repair of leaking pipes across Palampur town, nothing has been done.

These pipes of the IPH department are causing losses worth lakhs of rupees to the PWD in Palampur and its adjoining areas every year as most of the roads recently metalled by the latter have developed potholes.

“The Irrigation and Public Health department has failed to follow norms fixed by the government for the laying of water supply pipes. Most of the pipes are open and leaking, directly affecting PWD roads and causing inconvenience to public. As per norms notified by the state government, the minimum depth of the pipes should be one feet but these norms have openly been flouted by the IPH department,” a retired Chief Engineer told The Tribune.

The road leading to Maranda via Choki is the worst effected. There are about one-foot deep potholes on the road and water keeps flows out. Roads leading to Bundla, Kandi, Lohana, Sai Garden have turned into drains at many points.

Local residents, too, have brought the matter to the notice of the IPH authorities of Thural and Palampur many times, but no steps have been initiated.

A senior officer of the Public Works Department said he had written a number of letters to the IPH authorities of Thural for the repair of leaking pipes on the Choki road, but to no avail. Till the water keeps flowing on the road, the department cannot repair the roads. The problem has also led to wastage of precious water.

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Caption: Leaking pipes in Palampur. Tribune photo