As summer nears, no end in sight to water crisis in Mohali

Even before the onset of summer, residents of SAS Nagar are facing water scarcity owing to low pressure. Although the city needs 13 million gallons per day (MGD) of water to meet its requirements, it is getting only 10 MGD, leaving the residents inconvenienced. Also, the municipal corporation (MC) is struggling to supply clean water.

Even before the onset of summer, residents of SAS Nagar are facing water scarcity owing to low pressure. Although the city needs 13 million gallons per day (MGD) of water to meet its requirements, it is getting only 10 MGD, leaving the residents inconvenienced. Also, the municipal corporation (MC) is struggling to supply clean water.

People residing on the upper floors in Phases 4 and 5 are not getting any water due to low pressure. Phase 5 residents have been demanding installation of a booster since March 2015, but the authorities have turned a deaf ear to their demand. Making the matters worse is the fact that the pump in Phase 7 is not functional.

Although the MC has received a grant of Rs 26.18 crore for augmentation of water supply, the work is yet to start.

“The entire SAS Nagar is struggling for water, but the MC is installing only two tubewells, that too in a single phase, discriminating with the rest of the city. The tubewells that are proposed to be set up are in the wards represented by the ruling alliance councillors. Other wards have been left high and dry. The MC is making no effort to deal with the water crisis, which will only worsen as temperature rises,” said councillor Arun Sharma, who even raised the issue during the MC House meeting held in September last year and the one held on Tuesday.

Bhupinder Singh, who met representatives of various residents’ organisations, said: “Residents raised the issue of shortage of water supply. We will be forwarding their concerns to the MC, asking the body to take appropriate action to prevent incovenience to residents.”