Reduced supply, muddy water: The reality of 24×7 water access project hits hard months after launch in Manimajra

To provide uninterrupted water supply to households in Manimajra, the UT administration had launched a 24×7 water supply pilot project in August last year.

Initially, residents welcomed the move with the hope that water would now reach every floor of their homes without the need for motor pumps. However, since the project began, residents are complaining of severe water shortages.

Naveen Sharma, a Manimajra resident, said that previously, residents used to receive water for 3 to 4 hours every morning and evening, which they managed with motor pumps.

But now, even motor pumps aren’t sufficient, and water reaches only limited parts of homes.

“The summer season has further intensified the crisis. Under the project, canal water was supposed to be stored in two underground reservoirs (UGRs) with a total capacity of 4 million gallons, built opposite Shivalik Garden. This stored water was meant to be distributed with adequate pressure across Manimajra. However, due to limited canal water availability, the system is running on reduced capacity,” added Sharma.

Pooja Bhajni of Dhera Sahib, Manimajra said that initially when the project started, water used to reach even the fourth floor of buildings without any motor.

Now, water doesn’t even reach the first floor.

She said his neighbours are also facing severe shortages and despite repeated complaints, project plumbers only inspect the water meters and pipelines without resolving the core issue.

In Indira Colony

In Indira Colony, residents are dealing with a different but equally troubling issue — muddy and contaminated water.

According to Subhash Dhiman, chairman of the Indira Colony Welfare Association, houses in the area are receiving muddy water.

However, Colonel (retired) Gursewak Singh, President RWA of Modern Housing Complex, said the situation is better than earlier, there is improvement in the water supply after the 24×7 water supply pilot project.

On the muddy water sometimes in the area, he said that the internal pipes were though replaced with new ones by the authorities concerned, but at few areas the main pipes have not been replaced — which are nearly 25 years old — and when they are to be repaired sometimes, the ground has to be dug, to reach to the pipes and in the process, certain amount of mud goes in water, and then for sometime the supply of water gets muddy.

The problems related to water supply are occasional, the Colonel (retired) added.

Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla, however, said that the issue was raised before the Municipal Commissioner too.

The expert teams are working on the problem, and soon the issue will be resolved, she added.

Residents, however, remain dissatisfied and are urging the administration to take immediate action to restore clean and adequate water supply across Manimajra and Indira Colony.