Chandigarh and its neighbouring towns of Mohali and Panchkula faced a major water crisis on Saturday and Sunday due to a snag in the water supply system. The snag occurred at the Kajauli Water Works, about 30 km from here, from where the water supply to Chandigarh and the two adjoining towns, in Punjab and Haryana respectively, is made.
The problem began in the water delivery header, which burst, leading to flooding of the pump house at the water works. The pump house motors were damaged. Residents claimed they got no water supply on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. According to the MC officials, technical staff managed to repair the snag and normal water supply was restored to most parts of the city by Sunday evening. low pressure water supply was made to some parts of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula on Sundaymorning.
Chandigarh MC chief engineer N.P. Sharma said that officers and staff of the public health and water supply wings of the MC are supervising the repair work at Kajauli, which is located in neighbouring Punjab. Residents in Chandigarh’s southern sectors, which are thickly populated and have thousands of flats, were the worst sufferers due to the failed water supply. Even in Chandigarh’s upscale northern and central sectors, residents had to face water crisis.
Chandigarh Mayor Arun Sood, who held an emergency meeting with MC officers on Saturday night, said that water tankers are being arranged for the city residents. He said he would take up the issue of the maintenance of the Kajauli water works with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Chandigarh and other areas had faced a water crisis in 2013 as well following leakage in the water supply pipes.