Repairs on Nana Chowk pipeline complete

MUMBAI, SEPT 6: Repairs on the pipeline at Nana Chowk which burst two weeks ago was completed by the municipal corporation in the evening...

MUMBAI, SEPT 6: Repairs on the pipeline at Nana Chowk which burst two weeks ago was completed by the municipal corporation in the evening today. Deputy Municipal Commissioner (special engineering) S N Phatnani said that normal water supply to south-Mumbai would be restored immediately.

The pipeline, built by the British in 1924, which used to carry water to the Malabar Hill reservoir had developed a crack at Nana Chowk and five minor holes where the pipeline had rusted. Repairs to the pipeline were delayed as water pressure during high tide made it impossible to carry out the repair work.

Admitting that most of the pipelines in Mumbai had become very old and there is possibility of frequent leaks, Phatnani informed that the BMC was laying a tunnel from Ruparel College in Matunga to Mahalakshmi which would be used to supply water to Malabar Hill at a cost of Rs 50 crore. The tunnel from Mahalakshmi to Malabar Hill had been laid five years ago at a cost of Rs 18 crore.

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Once, both these tunnels areconnected in the year 2000, south Mumbai will receive 400 million gallon litres of water every day instead of the present 260 million gallon litres.

In the Western suburbs, the BMC will lay a tunnel from Bhandup pumping station to Malad and from Malad to Charkop in Kandivali. This will be part of the Bombay IIIA Water Supply Project financed by Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) and will ensure more water for people residing in Goregaon, Malad, Kandivali, Borivali and Dahisar. There is no new project in the Eastern suburbs but, tenders have been floated to lay a tunnel.

The BMC plans to invite foreign consultants to plan the repair of the pipelines and a better distibution of Mumbai’s water. Seven foreign firms have expressed interest in this project, he added. “The consultants will be given about 10 critical zones and asked to work on a plan as to improve the water supply,” he said.

The one hitch in hiring the consultants in all the zones was that the 40,000 employees in thewater supply department would be left with no work since the consultants would take on the job of preparation and execution of the plan, informed civic officials.