2 Bhakra pipelines damaged, restoring complete drinking water supply biggest challenge: Adviser

A few hours after the incessant rain caused heavy destruction in the city, the Chandigarh Administration stated that repairing the two Bhakra pipelines that transport drinking water to Chandigarh was one of the biggest challenges for them at the moment as it had hit the water supply.

At the same time, while mentioning other decisions taken to manage the aftermath, the administration also said that keeping in view the forecasts and heavy downpours, they would convert the community centres into relief centres, if required.

UT Adviser Dharam Pal while speaking to media persons said that though there hasn’t been any major loss in the city, restoring the water supply by repairing the damaged pipelines is one of the key challenges. He said that while one is completely destroyed, the other has leakages and they hope that the other two pipelines withstand the pressure and help them feed the city.

“We visited the Kajauli waterworks this morning. There are six pipelines. There are two which are completely damaged, that is phase 3 and phase 1. Two pipelines of phase 5 and 6 were shut down temporarily which have been made functional now. But the damage has reduced the capacity of water.

The total requirement of water in the city is 80 MGD and we have 60 MGD available. So there is a shortfall of 20 MGD. At the same time, we also have to supply 12 MGD — 6 MGD each to Chandimandir and 6 MGD to Panchkula. So, there is the 12 MGD deficit as well. This shortfall will be shared proportionately by Chandimandir, Chandigarh and Panchkula. With that point, there would be a reduction in water supply,” Pal said, adding that water has entered the waterworks and is posing a major challenge.

UT Adviser Dharam Pal stated that they would also press water tankers into service if required. The administration said that the water supply hours will have to be curtailed in the city. “Currently, we are supplying water to the city for four hours in the morning and four hours in the evening.  With immediate effect, this will be reduced to three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening. On Monday evening, there was no water supply in the city. For emergency purposes, the water will be supplied through tankers, if required,” it was added.

On Sunday, due to the heavy rain, the pipelines were destroyed. Because of this, the water supply in the city was affected on Monday.

Giving details about the destruction in the city, the Adviser stated that four to five road cave-ins have taken place. The cave-ins were in sector 14/15, sectors 36 and 37.

“These cave-ins are serious, so we have cordoned off the area so that there are no accidents. Six people were also rescued from Daria and Hallomajra,” the UT Adviser said, adding that the health department has been put on alert and even directed that chlorination be doubled in the city to prevent contamination.

The UT stated that it had kept one NDRF team consisting of 30 people on standby. “All doctors and paramedical staff have been put on high alert and leave of all kinds has been cancelled. Also, an adequate number of beds have been kept in the trauma ward and in ICU for any kind of eventuality in view of heavy rain and waterlogging. The Emergency at all hospitals — GMCH-32, GMSH-16, CH-22, CH-45 and CH-MM — has been put on high alert,” it was said.

To handle complaints related to electricity, fallen trees, road repairs and waterlogging pertaining to the Chandigarh Administration, a Citizen Facilitation Centre has been set up, which works on a 24X7 basis on no. 0172-4639999.

Further, one dedicated control room has been established at Sukhna Lake to monitor the level of the lake on a 24X7 basis, i.e. 0172-2991109, and to coordinate with different departments during the opening of floodgates in case of emergency.

Around 400 traffic personnel were specially deployed for managing the traffic due to waterlogging and flooding. As many as 32 police emergency response teams were deployed.