Ludhiana: Public confidence in the city’s ambitious 24×7 canal-based water supply project has hit a new low after fresh leakages surfaced along Pakhowal Road, turning busy thoroughfares into waterlogged hazards.The World Bank-funded initiative, designed to modernise the city’s water infrastructure, is now facing intense scrutiny over alleged lapses in engineering quality and a perceived lack of official oversight. Commuters and business owners reported significant water bursts this week near high-traffic landmarks, including the Indoor Stadium (opposite Bikaner Sweets) and Deep Filling Station.
The leakages have not only resulted in the loss of thousands of litres of treated water but have also compromised the road surface. “Vehicles are getting stuck in the mud because the roads aren’t being repaired properly after the pipes burst,” noted one frustrated resident. “It’s a lapse in execution that is costing the public both money and safety.”A Pattern of FailureThis is not an isolated incident. Similar structural failures were recently reported in the Model Town area. Despite a recent intervention by mayor Inderjit Kaur — who gave officials a 20-day deadline to rectify the technical snags — the issues persist. Civic activists have highlighted several core concerns. Allegations that contractors are applying “band-aid” repairs rather than addressing underlying pressure or joint issues.Residents are now calling for a full technical audit of the project to investigate the quality of materials used. Questions have been raised regarding whether the municipal corporation (MC) is enforcing penalty clauses against the contracted firms responsible for the installation.Official ResponseMunicipal corporation’s subdivisional officer Jaideep Singh assured the public that the latest leaks would be investigated. However, the recurring nature of the damage suggests a deeper systemic issue with the project’s monitoring mechanism. The project was initially hailed as a landmark solution to Ludhiana’s groundwater depletion, but the frequent infrastructure failures are now causing more daily disruption than the relief they promised. MSID:: 128347487 413 |
