Manimajra's 24x7 water supply project hits turbulence; MC internal report, Chandigarh BJP chief flag major flaws
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Chandigarh: What was once hailed as a flagship initiative under the 'Viksit Bharat' vision is now under intense scrutiny. The ambitious 24x7 water supply pilot project in Manimajra, inaugurated with much fanfare by Union home minister Amit Shah in Aug 2024, has hit turbulent waters.
Amid growing concerns and political pressure, Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria is set to convene a high-level meeting to dissect the project's faltering progress.
The move comes in the wake of a strongly worded letter from Chandigarh BJP president Jatinder Pal Malhotra to the Union home minister, expressing alarm over the project's execution. Sources confirm that the ministry of home affairs has since forwarded the letter to the UT Administrator, prompting urgent administrative attention.
The project, spearheaded by Chandigarh Smart City Limited and executed through a Rajasthan-based agency, was envisioned to revolutionize water supply in Manimajra — transitioning from intermittent to round-the-clock pressurized water delivery, complete with smart metering and automated control systems.
But the reality on the ground paints a starkly different picture.
A confidential internal report by the Engineering Department of the Municipal Corporation has laid bare a series of alarming discrepancies: No zone in Manimajra has achieved 24x7 pressurized water supply; pressure reducing valves (PRVs) and variable frequency drive (VFD) pumping systems remain non-operational; major lapses in the construction of underground reservoirs, pumping stations, and the rollout of the SCADA automation system; and much-touted smart water meters are yet to be fully deployed.
The project was awarded through an e-tender at a staggering Rs 165.86 crore, split into capital expenditure (capex) — Rs 74.56 crore — and operational expenditure (OPEX) — Rs 91.29 crore.
Despite the scale of investment, the outcomes have been underwhelming — a fact that has not gone unnoticed by local leadership. Malhotra has reportedly warned that the project's failure is damaging the BJP's image and undermining the Prime Minister's development agenda.
What's Next?
With the spotlight now firmly on the project, the upcoming meeting chaired by Kataria is expected to be a turning point.
Malhotra's letter to Shah
In a letter to Amit Shah, Chandigarh BJP president Jatinder Pal Malhotra said, "In August 2024, a project was inaugurated by you, in the presence of administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, chief secretary Rajeev Verma, and other dignitaries, for 24-hour water supply with proper pressure for all floors.
The funds amounting to Rs 75 crore were allocated for the project under the smart city mission. The reality of this project clearly reflects that the whole project has collapsed, and nobody is held accountable and responsible for this wastage of Rs 75 crore.
Sir, on one side, taxes are being imposed on the public, and on the other, Rs 75 crore have been wasted. Certainly, there are policy lapses or a lack of accountability in the system of administration of UT Chandigarh. The media reports are causing grave damage to our reputation in public at large and are also not in tune with our visionary Prime Minister's dream of VIKSIT BHARAT: 2047. Your good self is thus humbly requested to intervene in the matter and call for a detailed inquiry report on the same."
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