The Indian Express                   04.04.2013

Tertiary treated water still not being used to irrigate parks

Having spent crores on a project to supply tertiary treated water,
the Municipal Corporation has not been able to ensure that the water is
utilised for irrigation. The reason being the lack of co-ordination
between departments of the civic body. While the public health
department claims that water is reaching most of the gardens and
greenbelts, the horticulture department has not deputed anyone to make
use of the water.

Superintending Engineer (Public Health) R C Diwan says, “Just a
few residential areas are left where pipelines have not been laid. Water
is being supplied till source. However, thereafter someone has to make
use of it. An official has now been deputed specifically for dealing
with problems of tertiary treated water.”

The project for conversion of sewerage water into tertiary
treated water and distributing it was undertaken under Jawaharlal Nehru
Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) in four phases. The plant for tertiary
treated water was set up at Diggian. Four reservoirs were constructed
one each in Sectors 48 and 29 and two in Sector 28. Pipelines were laid
throughout the city in all sectors so that water could reach every
garden and park.

The aim was to ensure that drinking water that is being used for
irrigation is saved. However, at present this is not the case. While the
MC has more than 1700 parks and more than 25 big gardens, tertiary
treated water is still not being used for irrigation at most of the
places.

The public health department that is responsible for the project
claims that their work is to provide water till the source. Thereafter
there have to be some people deployed in the parks and greenbelts who
would install a hydrant and a pipe and make use of the water.

A majority of the councillors rue that tertiary treated water is not available in their wards.

Gurbax Rawat, councillor of ward 9 comprising Sectors 39 and 40,
says, “Irrigation of parks and greenbelts in my ward is being done
through tubewells. Though pipelines have been laid, we are not receiving
tertiary treated water.”

A similar situation prevails in ward 20 where deputy Mayor Satish
Kainth is the area councillor. Kainth says that he had written a letter
a few months back to the public health wing suggesting that apart from
irrigation, tertiary treated water could also be used at service
stations in Industrial Area. “At present potable water is being used to
wash cars. The department claims that tertiary treated water can be used
for all purposes apart from drinking. So it should be good enough for
washing cars. However, no heed has been paid. Water is not being
supplied to parks in my ward,” he adds.

Satinder Singh, area councillor of ward 18 says that while
pipelines are present, due to the absence of hydrants and related
equipment water is not being utilised.

There has also been speculation that the amount of tertiary
treated water being generated is less than what is projected. In
meetings held recently, it has been suggested that flow meters be
installed at Diggian to verify quantity of water produced. In some
sectors leakages were witnessed in the pipelines due to which supply was
affected.