Revive defunct underground water system: traders

It is high time that the defunct underground water pipeline system of Old Delhi is revived, especially considering the fact how handy it will be in case of another fire in the area. Neelam Pandey reports.

It is high time that the defunct underground water pipeline system of Old Delhi is revived, especially considering the fact how handy it will be in case of another fire in the area.

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The Bhagirath Place trader association has also demanded a separate disaster management plan for Chandni Chowk.

It said the government should repair and revive the pipeline system so that old water hydrants can be used again. Otherwise, new hydrants can also be installed. "Nearly 100 years ago, the water needs of Old Delhi were met through a system of underground pipelines, which are still intact. Old Delhi is very congested now and fire engines are unable to go inside the area," said Ajay Sharma, president of the All India Electrical Associations.

The entire Chandni Chowk area has become very congested in the past few years, which fire engines find hard to navigate.

Experts too said that the water pipeline existed nearly a hundred years back. "Piped water supply was introduced in Shahjahanbad in 1890s when the Chandrawal waterworks was instituted. This network, entirely underground, exists even today, even though there may be breaches at several places," said AK Jain, former commissioner Delhi (planning) Development Authority (DDA).

Officials of the Delhi Fire Services said that a detailed report on the system will be made.