Mayor caught up with VB probe, canal water project takes a hit

Ludhiana: Even as the problem of potable water and regular supply has aggravated in several areas of the city, the wait for 24x7 canal water supply continues. Till date, tenders for the project have not been floated to start construction work of water treatment plant. The officials claimed they were yet to fulfill certain conditions fixed by the World Bank and one house meeting was also required for giving nod to the project. However, since mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu is little caught up in vigilance matter in the ongoing tender scam, the house meeting had not been scheduled.
Due to drastic fall in the ground water level, experts have been suggesting to switch over from ground water to surface or canal water. The total cost of this project was estimated at Rs 3,200 crore and the World Bank had extended its support for the project. The city residents have been waiting for the project for over a decade.
The municipal corporation (MC) had installed at least 1,000 tube wells in the city to provide water supply to the residents and people will get double water supply once canal-based system will be introduced. To check water wastage, water meters are going to be installed.
Additional commissioner of MC, Aaditya Dachalwal said, “As soon as mayor will get free, we will go ahead with the house meeting and after getting nod we will move ahead and invite tenders.”
However, the residents said the authorities should hurry up and arrange potable water to the public. A resident of Haibowal, Sunita Jain said, “Water that is being supplied is contaminated and, moreover, many areas struggle with low pressure problem. The tube wells are getting dry with each passing day so it is better to switch over to some other source.”
Another resident from Civil Lines, Kamaljit Singh said, “The water supply is a major issue in this city and for the last few years, we have been hearing about canal-based water supply, but nothing has materialised.”