Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
The three main water pipelines supplying the city remained shut from 11 am to 6 pm on Friday, resulting in zero inflow of water from the Jayakwadi Dam. All 29 elevated storage reservoirs (ESRs) ran dry, and it became nearly impossible to supply water through tankers to thousands of residents in Gunthewari areas.
Areas scheduled to receive water on Friday did not get supply, leading to widespread shortage across the city. Water pumping from Jayakwadi resumed in the evening, and supply began reaching the city around 8 pm.
The shutdown was taken to carry out multiple works, including installation of a solar system at the Pharola water treatment plant, increasing electrical load at the pump house in Nakshatrawadi under the new water supply scheme, and site cleaning work for a substation by the power distribution company. As a result, all three major pipelines of 700 mm, 900 mm, and 1200 mm diameter had to be shut.
The work was completed by 6 pm, after which pumping was restarted. Efforts were underway late into the night to fill reservoirs and supply water the same day, while some areas have been scheduled to receive water on Saturday morning.
Women protest at water tank
Residents in Gunthewari areas depend on tanker water supplied by the municipal corporation. On Friday, when tankers failed to arrive, agitated women gathered at the N-5 ESR.
They complained that water is supplied only once in six to seven days and tanker drivers often do not arrive on time or respond to calls, forcing them to approach the authorities directly.