DLF City fumes as taps go dry

Taps and tanks across DLF City Phase I-III have dried up owing to severe power cuts, compelling residents to spend on expensive water tankers.

Taps and tanks across DLF City Phase I-III have dried up owing to severe power cuts, compelling residents to spend on expensive water tankers.

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Moreover, one of the four water pumps at Haryana Urban Development Authority’s (Huda) Sector-16 booster station has developed a snag, further aggravating the problem.

All the 12 underground tanks of Phase I to IV of DLF City nearly went dry on Wednesday. People had to call private water suppliers on Thursday and Friday. The DLF estate management blamed the “old” water pumps for the problem.

“The four pumps are old and nearly defunct. They were installed 12 to 15 years ago and the water demand has increased manifold. These old pumps are not able to sustain the load,” said Baljit Singh, an official in the DLF estate management.

However, Huda did not accept the argument and said that erratic power supply was the real cause of the water crisis.

“The power supply has been very erratic since April 1. We are in touch with Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) and are hopeful that the supply will resume by Saturday,” said Huda executive engineer Naresh Pawar, also in-charge of water supply.

“We repaired the damaged pump this morning and it is now functioning well. Yes, the damage did affect flow of water supply to DLF City,” he added.

In a strongly-worded letter to Huda administrator Parveen Kumar, RS Rathee, president of residents’ group Gurgaon Citizens’ Council, said, “We have come to know that there have been frequent power cuts. At the Sector-16 boosting station, there are four old water pumps which have lived their life. All four pumps have to run together to pump water up to DLF City. Even if one pump is down, water does not reach DLF City.”