Chandigarh: For nearly five days this week, taps in several parts of Mauli Jagran ran dry. Water tankers were deployed, but residents say many families received little or no relief, with some getting only a fraction of their daily requirement.For residents, the latest disruption is not a one-off crisis but a recurring problem that has persisted for years.Outside one resident’s home, a blocked sewer remains clogged, with stagnant rainwater and sewage collecting on the road. For Suraj, who lost his daughter nearly six months ago, the scene is a constant reminder of what he says took her life.“Nal mein jal nahi, aur sadak par kal nahi,” remarked another resident, pointing to stagnant wastewater outside his lane. “There is more water on our roads than in our taps. We see no future.” Residents say the irony captures the reality of life in Mauli Jagran.“The water crisis here is not new. We have been made to feel like lesser citizens. Every day we complain, but nobody listens,” said a resident who recently graduated as a civil engineer.Several residents claimed that many localities face inadequate water supply for up to half the month.Frustrated by what they describe as years of inaction, residents are now planning to form a welfare association to collectively press for solutions. “We are tired of complaining on every available platform, but there is never a resolution. Complaints are rejected, so we have decided to organise ourselves. We are the ones who have to live here,” said resident Mukesh Kumar.Following a recent meeting with officials, residents submitted a detailed representation highlighting what they believe are operational and technical flaws in the area’s water distribution system.Rather than blaming the crisis solely on groundwater shortages, residents have sought a comprehensive assessment of demand versus actual supply from each tubewell and booster station. They also questioned manpower deployment, noting that one operator currently manages three tubewells. Mauli Jagran has eight tubewells in total.Residents allege that water flows continuously in some low-lying areas while elevated pockets receive little or none. They have demanded installation and calibration of flow-control valves to ensure equitable distribution.The memorandum also seeks a technical audit of the water distribution network laid in recent years, arguing that supply problems have worsened since the new pipelines became operational. Concerns regarding pipeline alignment, gradient and household connections have also been raised.Citing official data, residents pointed out that booster tanks take four to five hours to fill during each cycle, requiring nearly 10 hours of pumping daily. They have suggested installing higher-capacity pumps to cut filling time, improve supply and reduce strain on existing infrastructure.Among the long-term measures demanded are the early commissioning of the proposed canal water supply project, assessment of the need for additional tubewells and a review of whether existing storage infrastructure can meet the area’s growing population.Officials maintained that the recent disruption lasted less than two days and was resolved after new motors and pumps were installed at tubewell nos. 4 and 8.Officials said Mauli Jagran has about 46,000 houses, with an average of three floors per building and about eight occupants per household. They said the system is designed to supply 135 litres of water per person per day.Residents, however, insist the issue goes beyond availability. “It is about distribution, management and monitoring,” said one resident. “We are not asking for anything extraordinary. We just want a regular supply of water like every other household.”
