Water shortage haunts sectors across Gurgaon

Residents hold issues ranging from technical inexpertise to lack of electricity responsible for the poor water situation

As the summer peaks, residents of many sectors in Gurgaon are facing acute shortage of water. Sectors 21, 22, 23, 17, Sushant Lok, South City 2, Mayfield Garden, Sector 56 and adjoining areas are facing inadequate and irregular water supply.

According to Sector 56 residents, the staff deployed at the local boosting station is not technically qualified and at times they do not know how to manage the valves, which adds to the water scarcity. (Sanjeev Verma/HT Photo)

In Sector 56, more than 600 families are suffering due to water shortage. Their representatives met the senior town planner on Monday and requested a visit to their area.

“Initially, there were problems due to regular leakages caused at Signature Tower and Iffco Chowk due to flyover work, so we thought that the problem was just for a day or two. But the shortage has assumed a menacing proportion,” said Sudhir Bhardwaj, president, Sector 56 residents’ welfare association (RWA).

“There is a technical issue that is leading to water scarcity. The staff deployed at the boosting station is not technically qualified and at times they do not know how to manage the water valves. Due to such technical glitches, the water pressure is low,” he added.

In many areas, residents have been forced to buy water tankers from unauthorised suppliers. They cost between Rs600 and Rs1,000, depending upon their capacity. The quality of the water, however, is not assured and the need for them arises every second day.

“Some parts of Mayfield Garden are facing acute shortage and people are forced to buy tankers regularly,” said Commander (retired) Dharmvir Yadav, former RWA president, Mayfield Garden, Sector 51.

“The government should improve the situation as peak summer is approaching and people will face more problems,” he added.

Residents have also blamed poor supply of power and usage of old pumps and machinery at the pumping stations for water shortage.

To make things worse, the power discom Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) also recently sent a notice to the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda). It said that power supply to the water treatment plants at Chandu Budhera and Basai will be stopped if the urban authority does not play electricity charges.

Residents fear that the situation will get much worse if this happens.

“The government should either provide regular water or arrange free tankers for residents,” said Juliet Arora, a resident of Block C, Sushant Lok-1.

The colony’s RWA president, Dr AK Nagpal, said that the DHBVN has issued a permanent disconnection order
due to non-payment by their developer, who owns these connections.

As a result, there is no power to run the substations or electric motors for individual submersible pumps in houses. Hence, water scarcity continues.

Yashpal Yadav, Huda administrator, said, “All measures are being taken to ensure regular water supply in the city. DHBVN’s charges will be paid and there will be no problem at the treatment plants.”