Chlorinators at many tubewells lying defunct; cos refuse to take up job - Hindustan Times
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Chlorinators at many tubewells lying defunct; cos refuse to take up job

Hindustan Times | By, Chandigarh
Sep 03, 2012 10:04 PM IST

Residents of several southern sectors in Chandigarh have been consuming unchlorinated water unknowingly for the last three years as a majority of chlorinators installed at tubewells run by the local municipal corporation are lying defunct.

Residents of several southern sectors in Chandigarh have been consuming unchlorinated water unknowingly for the last three years as a majority of chlorinators installed at tubewells run by the local municipal corporation are lying defunct.

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Companies allotted the job of maintaining and running the 76 chlorinators at as many tubewells last month are said to have refused to take charge since more than 50 of them are defunct since 2009.

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As per the terms and conditions of allotment of the work, the chlorinators were to be handed over in working condition. But a survey got conducted by the companies not only revealed that more than 50 chlorinators were totally non-functional, but also that electrical starters, motors, brass valves of chorine cylinders were missing and fittings simply did not exist in certain cases.

It is pertinent to mention here that public money to the tune of Rs 50 lakh was spent on the installation of chlorinators at about 50 tubewells in 2009. As per the contract entered into by authorities in 2009, the company that installed the chlorinators was to maintain these for two years. However, the work was not done.

Last month, the public health wing of the Chandigarh MC had again floated the tender for the installation of new chlorinators at about 76 tubewells and earmarked nearly Rs 45 lakh for the same.

A Hindustan Times that visited two tubewells at LIG colony and near the government school in Sector 56 found chlorine gas cylinders missing. Similarly, though the gas cylinder was found at a tube well in Sector 55, it was not connected to the water supply.

When contacted, public health division number 3 executive engineer Anil Bansal refused to comment.

However, BJP councillor Satinder Singh said, "It is very astonishing that senior officials of public health wing have never visited these tubewells. They are not even aware how these are operated. We raised the issue in the MC meeting on August 29 after which the wing's superintending engineer assured us that he would seek a report from officers concerned."

"I have already taken up the matter in the House, but it could not be discussed. I will again raise the issue in the next meeting and demand a vigilance inquiry," BJP councillor Saurabh Joshi said.

Asked for comments on the issue, public health wing superintending engineer Ramesh Chander Diwan said, "I will seek a report from the officials concerned and also visit the spots and initiate action accordingly."

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  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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    Hillary Victor is a Principal Correspondent at Chandigarh. He covers Chandigarh administration, municipal corporation and all political parties.

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