Smart City Faridabad stares at drinking water crisis

Bijendra Ahlawat

Even the Smart City project seems to have failed to end the drinking water crisis faced during the summer here. Despite tall claims of the authorities concerned, several parts of the city has shortage of drinking water supply,  it is reported.

Though several water ATMs (automatic dispensers) have been installed to meet the demand, as part of technological advancement, but the major issue is still the quality of water supply in the city with a population of nearly 18 lakh. “Though we have a piped water supply,  the quality of water is poor and is unfit for consumption as its TDS (total dissolved solvents) is several times higher than the safe value,” said  Suresh Kumar, a resident of Dabua Colony of the NIT area. He said while the piped water was used mainly for the purpose of washing and bathing, the drinking water was procured from private sellers, who supplied it through packaged bottles.  Citing the problem as a major issue,  Kailash Sharma, a resident of  G-Block of Sector 10, here, said it was erratic and forced residents to purchase water from private suppliers when crisis persisted. “ The tubewell of this locality has been lying dried for the past five years,” he said. “The tubewell in our locality has also been supplying inadequate water, especially during summer,’’ says Ajay Chaudhary of B-Block of Sector 11, here.

Kulbir of Parvatiya Colony said the supply was poor and erratic during summer and the residents had to depend on private tankers, who charged anywhere between Rs 500 and 800 per tanker. “Tankers supply double the water during these months in our colony as the pipelines go dry during May and June”, said Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Parvatiya colony.

“The city is getting a supply of 224 MLD daily against a demand of 232 MLD at present,” said DR Bhaskar, Superintending Engineer, Municipal Corporation, Faridabad.  He said while 80 to 85 MLD was being supplied through 1,564 Tubewells, 120 MLD was supplied from the 14 ranney wells operating from the Yamuna bed in the district. Besides 18 water ATMs that charge Rs 1 per litre, the MCF has a fleet of 215 tankers that supply water in the problem areas, he added. The shortfall is just 8 MLD of water daily, he further said.