The Citizens Welfare Association (CWA) of Panchkula has launched serious allegations against the Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) for failing to resolve what residents describe as a worsening water crisis in Sector 15. According to the association, the urban development body has repeatedly ignored complaints about persistent water shortages spanning several years.
Erratic Supply and Pressure Problems
Residents of Sector 15 are grappling with inconsistent water availability and significantly reduced pressure during the designated supply hours of 5 AM to 9 AM and 5 PM to 9 PM. The situation has become particularly dire for those living on higher floors, with first and second-floor residents reporting complete deprivation of fresh water supply even for basic needs.
Ground-floor residents aren't faring much better, struggling with inadequate water pressure that makes daily chores challenging. The CWA highlighted this concerning situation in an official statement released on Wednesday, noting that the problem has reached critical levels.
Glaring Disparities Between Sectors
The water woes in Sector 15 become even more frustrating when compared to neighboring areas. According to the residents' group, Sectors 6, 7 and 8 enjoy full-pressure water supply for the entire eight-hour duration, creating what they call an unfair distribution of essential resources.
This inequality has fueled resentment among Sector 15 residents, who question why their area receives such differential treatment despite being one of the most densely populated sectors in Panchkula with more than 21,000 residents.
Breaking Point and Official Response
The situation reached a boiling point on November 15, when water supply reportedly began later than scheduled and ended prematurely. This incident triggered an outpouring of frustration on a residents' WhatsApp group, with messages immediately forwarded to HSVP top officials.
CWA President S K Nayar revealed that despite repeated complaints, the HSVP provided no timely response. The urban body only initiated action after higher authorities intervened, raising questions about the efficiency of the grievance redressal system.
The residents have now escalated their demands, calling for water supply parity with Sectors 6, 7 and 8, including full-pressure supply for eight hours daily.
Infrastructure Limitations and Permanent Solutions
The core of the problem lies in outdated infrastructure that hasn't kept pace with the sector's growing population. Sector 15 currently depends on two underground water tanks with capacities of eight lakh and three lakh litres, yet these prove insufficient to maintain adequate pressure.
The sector's heavy reliance on waterworks in Industrial Area Phase 1 results in frequent delays, reduced supply hours, and persistent pressure problems. According to the CWA, additional underground tanks won't resolve the fundamental issue.
CWA members including V K Jain, A K Walia, U K Gupta, Shahzad Khan and Vinay Kumar have joined President Nayar in seeking an urgent meeting with HSVP Chief Administrator Chander Shekhar Khare to address the crisis.
The citizen body insists that only an overhead water tank can provide a viable, permanent solution to ensure uniform water pressure across all areas of Sector 15. They have urged the HSVP to take their suggestions seriously and implement immediate corrective measures to alleviate the suffering of thousands of residents.
