Residents of Manimajra continue to grapple with irregular and muddy water supply, even as the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation claims to have implemented a 24×7 water supply project in the area. Complaints of frequent disruptions, high bills, and poor water quality have cast doubt over the ambitious initiative, which was launched as part of the Smart City Mission.
Sanjeev Gaba, a Manimajra resident, said the situation has worsened since the project’s launch. “The 24-hour water plan has been forced on us and has no practical significance. We have been dealing with issues like no 24-hour water supply, high water bills, and dirty water,” he said.
In Govindpura, the problem is even more severe. “There has been no water for the past two days, and the issue of muddy water has persisted since the scheme’s inauguration,” Gaba added.
It has been over six months since Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated this project on August 5. The project, which aims to provide round-the-clock pressurised water to every household, has come at a steep cost. The Manimajra pilot project alone has cost Rs 162.06 crore, while the citywide rollout is expected to reach Rs 591.57 crore.
Chandigarh has secured a Rs 412-crore loan from the French government’s Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and a Rs 98-crore grant from the European Union (EU) to fund the initiative. However, concerns are growing over loan repayment—approximately one million euros every quarter for the next 15 years—with fears that the burden will eventually be passed on to residents through higher water tariffs.
Gursewak Singh, head of the Manimajra Resident Welfare Association, questioned the need for the project. “The current water supply is sufficient for our needs. We do not require 24×7 water, and increased tariffs will only add to our financial stress,” he said. He also raised concerns about potential wastage from leaks or broken taps, which could further strain households financially and mentally.
Story continues below this ad
Geetansh Sharma, another Manimajra resident, echoed similar views. “The government should focus on other pressing development issues here. The existing water supply is adequate, and this project seems unnecessary,” he said.
Despite claims of completion in some areas, residents say the promised round-the-clock water supply remains elusive. “We were assured 24×7 water, but all we have seen is a slight increase in supply timings. The project has cost crores, but the benefits are not reaching us as promised,” said a resident.
The project’s execution has also drawn criticism. Gursewak Singh noted a lack of supervision during construction, saying, “I have seen no officers overseeing the labour. Workers often dug deeper than required, causing unnecessary damage.” He also pointed to poor waste management, with construction debris still lying unattended along roads. “The roads have not been repaired after the pipeline work, making it a nightmare to live here for the past few years,” he added.
Despite these concerns, the government maintains that the project is crucial for the city’s long-term sustainability. It aims to reduce non-revenue water (NRW) losses, which currently account for 30-35 per cent of the total supply. By replacing 270 km of ageing pipelines and implementing advanced technologies like SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) and smart metering, the city hopes to achieve 100 per cent water charge recovery and lower per capita water consumption.
Story continues below this ad
However, financial concerns remain a major sticking point. Residents worry that installing smart meters, intended to curb water losses, will lead to higher bills, especially in undetected leaks. “The cost of leakage and inefficiencies should not be passed on to consumers,” Gursewak Singh said.