E-Paper
40 non-functional tubewells in tow, MC ready for another 39
While the municipal corporation (MC) is in the process of installing 39 new tubewells in various parts of the city, on the other hand, out of the existing 204 tubewells, 40 are non-functional for the past several months, leaving city short of 6 million gallon daily (mgd) of water.
While the municipal corporation (MC) is in the process of installing 39 new tubewells in various parts of the city, on the other hand, out of the existing 204 tubewells, 40 are non-functional for the past several months, leaving city short of 6 million gallon daily (mgd) of water.
Also, 9 mgd canal water will be taken away from the city by end of this year, as 6 mgd water — the share of Panchkula and 3 mgd — of Chandimandir — currently being used by Chandigarh will be withdrawn, leaving city in a grim position for the 2015 summer.
A senior official of MC, on the condition of anonymity, said, the Supervisory Control and Date Acquisition (SCADA), which maintained all 204 tubewells was not properly supervising the tubewells.
“Every day, the report we receive from SCADA shows that more than 40 tubewells are non-functional due to poor maintenance of machinery. Now, executive engineers cannot float tenders for maintenance without the approval of the committee, which the chief engineer has constituted, which is leading to delay in maintenance works,” the official added.
When contacted, RC Diwan, superintending engineer, MC, said since the executive engineers concerned were maintaining the tubewells, he was not aware of the matter, but would look into it on Wednesday.
Nominated councillor Surinder Bahga said in case the tubewells were properly maintained, city could get an additional 6 mgd water. MC officers should look into the matter seriously and ensure the repair of the tubewells.
He said though separate arrangements had been made for supplying water in villages and colonies through tubewells and boasters installed in the areas, due to lack of supervision and frequent breakdown of machinery, tubewells were not being maintained.
At present villages and colonies are getting both canal and tubewell water. The cost of installation of a new tubewell is `25 lakh, which releases 20,000 gallons of water.
