Chandigarh braces for water supply shutdown

Chandigarh: Residents in Chandigarh were on Monday asked by the local Municipal Corporation (MC) to brace for water supply shutdown for the next 36 due to ongoing work in the water supply line for the Union Territory. There was no water supply in the entire city on Monday evening.

MC officials said that water supply on Tuesday morning and evening (4 am to 8 am and 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm) will be at low pressure."Due to ongoing work of intake sump at take-off point at Kajauli (Bhakra mainline canal) for connection of Phase V & VI, there will be no pumping of raw water from Kajauli to Chandigarh on February 18 and 19," an MC spokesman said.

The city had faced water shortage on February 7 to 10 also due to the ongoing work to augment water supply."At present, Chandigarh is getting 58 MGD (million gallons per day) of raw water from Phase I to IV from Kajauli. The work of Phase V and VI for bringing 29 MGD additional raw water from Kajauli before the summer season is near completion," the spokesman said. The MC is promising that with the additional supply capacity, the city, with a population of over 1.1 million people, will get 24x7 water supply. To overcome the water shortage faced by residents on Monday and Tuesday, the MC has made arrangements to supply water through 62 water tankers.

"All the tankers have been fitted with motors to pump the water up to the top floor and overhead tanks. In case of any shortage of water, residents may call to the MC officials, as the officers have been deputed area-wise to supply water tankers to the residents," the spokesman said. Residents are advised to store adequate water on Monday morning as per their requirement.

"Water tankers will be available on a first-come-first-served basis and water will be supplied free of cost. Maximum 1000 litre water shall be supplied per household," the spokesman added. Being the joint capital of two states, Punjab and Haryana, and the headquarters of the UT administration, Chandigarh has a large number of VIPs, including ministers, politicians, bureaucrats, police officers and other influential people.