Temporary relief, but no end to Mandi’s water woes

Water scarcity continues to haunt residents of the Mandi Municipal Corporation (MC) area due to persistent disruption in the supply over the past several days. The Sanyard ward of MC received water after four days today, offering a brief respite to locals, who have been struggling to arrange water for domestic use.

The erratic water supply has severely impacted daily life, with residents across several wards facing similar challenges. Many have been forced to depend on water tankers and alternative sources to meet their daily requirement. Councillor Neha Vardhan said she had arranged water tankers for residents of her area with the assistance of the Jal Shakti Department.

“The situation is becoming unbearable,” said Neeraj Handa, a local resident. “There is an urgent need for a long-term solution. People are frustrated and helpless.” OP Kapoor, president of Citizens Council Mandi, echoed similar concerns and urged authorities to take prompt action.

The root of the crisis lies in repeated damage to the Uhl gravity main pipeline, which supplies water from the Uhl river to Mandi town. According to Raj Kumar Saini, Superintendent Engineer (SE), Jal Shakti Department, the pipeline near Skore village has broken down over 10 times in the last 20 days due to ongoing land subsidence in the area.

“Every time a break is reported, the pipe has to be emptied before welding can begin, which takes around 10–12 hours. Welding itself takes an additional 5–6 hours. Once repaired, water is released from the Riyagri intake, located 24 km from Mandi,” Saini explained.

“It takes 7–8 hours for water to reach the town. Mostly, by the time water arrives the pipeline breaks again due to land subsidence and all our efforts go in vain. This cycle has become a daily struggle for our department.”

The repeated failures of the main water pipeline have not only wasted manpower and resources, but have also led to growing public dissatisfaction. With no immediate end in sight, Mandi residents are demanding a sustainable and permanent solution to ensure uninterrupted water supply.

Authorities are now under pressure to explore alternative supply routes or initiate structural changes to the existing pipeline system to prevent further damage.