‘For how long can we depend on Kajauli? There’s need to find alternative sources’

The city started receiving water from Kajauli in 1983. This still continues to be the primary source of water. Owing to a dispute between the Punjab and Haryana governments,the proposal of Chandigarh to get additional water from Kajauli is also hanging fire.

Following the recent breakdown of pipelines that has plunged the city into a crisis with the availability of water being reduced drastically,Mayor Subhash Chawla feels there is a need for exploring alternative sources of water keeping in view the long-term needs of the city. “For how long can we depend on Kajauli? The problem that we are facing today could be worse in case of a more severe breakdown. The pipelines were laid three decades back and are old. Several years back,the feasibility of getting water from Gangowal was explored. However,it was rejected on the grounds that the water will be received against gravity,” he said.

The tubewells through which the remaining share of water is received are gradually getting defunct with the fall in the water level. In the southern sectors these are proving to be unsuccessful due to the quality of soil and the water level being low. The tubewells installed in the southern sectors start emitting sand faster.

Senior BJP leader and former MP Satya Pal Jain said,“There is no long-term planning for the city. During my stint in Parliament,I had raised the issue of construction of a dam on Ghaggar in order to get water for Chandigarh. This would also solve the recurring problem of flooding. In fact,the city was planned here due to its proximity with Ghaggar. We cannot be completely dependent on Kajauli.”

Jain alleges local MP Pawan Kumar Bansal has had a stint as the Union minister for water resources. However,during his tenure,additional water was not secured for the city.

Meanwhile,UT Home Secretary Anil Kumar

stated that Chandigarh was willing to pay its share for laying of pipelines for getting additional water from Kajauli. However,the water share is undecided due to the dispute between Punjab and Haryana. He added

that getting water from Ghaggar would not be a feasible option.

Supply hours changed,repair on

From Wednesday,the Municipal Corporation will be supplying water from 4 am to 8 am in all sectors. The evening water supply will be as per the schedule released by the MC earlier. The water supplied on Tuesday was between 2 am and 6 am or 7 am in most sectors. This caused considerable problems for the residents who complained that the supply hours need to be increased. Following the complaints,the supply hours have been changed.

The repair of the pipelines continued on Tuesday and work is expected to be completed in the next two days. Officials said work was being undertaken round the clock.

There was a surge in the demand for tankers with water supply being low pressure and supply hours reduced. On the upper storeys of houses,the condition was pitiable. Complaints were also received from hotels and hostels.