No extra water for Chandigarh, pipeline defect to blame

CHANDIGARH: The city would not receive additional water supply during this summer. Reason: a part of the pipeline laid near Kurali in Mohali district to supply 40 MGD (million gallons per day) to the Tricity got punctured during the testing period a few days back.
The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (Gmada) has blamed the Railways for poor work at the site and not following the laid down specifications while laying the pipeline, taking up the matter with the authorities to either repair the pipeline or lay a new one.
The Gmada had paid Rs 1.75 crore to the railways to lay 200ft water pipeline near Kurali as the land fell under its jurisdiction.
Sunil Kansal, chief engineer, Gmada, said, “The railways did a poor job. Even the specifications were not met. The pipeline got damaged during testing. And at that time the water was not even released with full pressure.” “Initially, we thought that problem had merely surfaced in joints, but later came to know that the pipeline has a problem as specifications were not followed.” “We have written to the railways in this regard. Now, it is up to them to do the work, but it is a fact that extra water will not be able to reach during summer as the work will take time,” Kansal said.
Bringing additional water to the city was a major Lok Sabha election issue as MP Kirron Kher had assured residents that the city would get more water after the polls. The additional water supply is also directly connected with the prestigious 24x7 water supply project.