GUWAHATI, July 24 � The wastage of treated water resulting from the leakage in the main distribution pipeline of the Satpukhuri scheme near Raj Bhawan is estimated to be around 40 lakh litres per day. This is around 50 per cent of the water treated in the scheme, said GMC sources. Again, the wastage of treated water of the Panbazar scheme near the TC School Rotary is 7 lakh litres to 8 lakh litres per day.
Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) sources said that the PWD has allegedly made repairs of the Satpukhuri pipeline near the Raj Bhawan more difficult by erecting a retaining wall right on it. The GMC has submitted a proposal of around Rs 47 lakh for laying a 300 metre-long alternative main supply line to overcome this problem, sources said.
Again, near the TC School Rotary, 7 lakh to 8 lakh litres of treated water of the Panbazar scheme is wasted per day because of the PWD diverting a seepage to the roadside drain by totally blocking the outflow point with bitumen and not allowing the GMC water works people to repair it for the past about four months, sources said.
The said leakage in the Panbazar distribution pipeline is affecting water supply to the Sarania reservoir. The PWD has remained silent over a Rs 22 lakh proposal of the GMC to divert this water pumping line from the Rotary point to a suitable alignment outside the Rotary. The non-repair of this leakage is affecting the areas like Lachit Nagar, Pub Sarania, part of Rajgarh, Rehabari, Cherapbhati etc.
It needs mention here that the Satpukhuri scheme supplies water to Chandmari Housing Colony Hills and foothill areas, Navagraha Hills and foothill areas, Kharghuli areas, the plains of the city�s eastern part like Uzanbazar, Chenikuthi, Hedayatpur, Silpukhuri, part of Rajgarh, Chandmari and areas up to Bamunimaidam. The leakage in the Satpukhuri distribution line is affecting water supply to the plains areas like Uzanbazar, Silpukhuri etc, said the GMC sources.
In 2002-03, the GMC submitted a proposal to the State Government for replacement of the old pipelines at an estimated cost of Rs 19.99 crore, which may now stand to be around Rs 50 crore due to price escalation. This proposal was sent by the State Government to the Central Government and the fate of the proposal is yet to be known, said the sources.
GMC submitted another proposal at an estimated cost of Rs 400 crore, to the State Government for augmentation of the entire water supply system, including replacement of the old pipelines. The fate of this proposal also is not known, sources said.
The three schemes proposed by the Israeli Tahal Group for Southeast Guwahati, South Central Guwahati and North Guwahati could not be proceeded with because of the elapse of the deadline for implementation of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM) under which they were proposed to be implemented.
Now, these schemes have been taken up with the Japan Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for assistance. In the meantime, one water supply scheme � South West Guwahati Scheme�is under implementation under the JNNURM. The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) is supervising its implementation.
GMC sources said that without dedicated power supply, the municipal water supply schemes would not be able to deliver the desired results. As, the situation is such that for three hours a day, on an average, the Panbazar scheme does not get power supply, while the Satpukhuri scheme faces non-supply of power for five hours a day on an average. In Kamakhya, the problem is of low voltage, said the sources.
