supply to 25 lakh residents will be affected.
A major water tunnel has been punctured by a private developer while digging a bore well for a redevelopment project in Malad (East).
The 12-km line supplies water to people residing between Dahisar and Goregaon and the damage caused will result in a water cut during repair work, which could take up to a fortnight.
About 25 lakh people would be affected.
Municipal sources said the work on the bore well started at Pushpanjali Cooperative Housing Society last week. The property is located near Ramleela Maidan.
On Wednesday, when the drilling reached a depth of about 50 metres, there was a huge gush of water and the workmen were excited to find a water source. But quite soon they realised their mistake and tried to stop the flow.
The gravity of the situation was clear when they informed the water department about the incident. “When they approached the ward office, it became clear that the damage was beyond the control of the local staff,” said a civic official.
The official said that the developer could not be hauled up as he had the necessary permission and documentation for the bore well work. It has come to light that the water department had granted the permission apparently relying on old maps which are riddled with errors.
The repair work has been entrusted to Soma Construction, a private company, which is equipped to fix the damage to the 250-ft wide tunnel.
Civic officials estimated that 150 lakh litres of water would be wasted each day on account of the damage till the tunnel is repaired. The work is expected to cost about Rs6 crore.
Ashok Tavadia, hydraulic engineer of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), said, “The extent of the damage and the repairs required will be known only after an expert committee assesses the situation.”
Bala Amberkar, leader of the Congress corporators in the BMC, has demanded action against officials responsible for the faulty maps. He has demanded an explanation from the authorities as to why the geological survey and digital mapping, decided two years ago, has not been undertaken yet.
This is the second such incident on the water tunnel that runs from Bhandup complex to Charkop in Kandivli. In a similar incident in 2010, the tunnel was damaged at Marve Road in Malad (West) by a contractor digging a bore well for a resident. Two contractors and a resident were arrested.
IIT panel to review tunnel-mapping
The BMC will appoint a three-member technical committee to review old maps and designs of water tunnels. “Three members from IIT will be roped in for the geological survey and mapping work for all 14 existing tunnels and any new ones,” said mayor Sunil Prabhu, after a meeting of all group leaders in the civic house and water department officials. He said a schedule will be chalked out for the repairs
Cell proposed for bore well approval
The BMC has proposed a centralised cell for permission to dig bore wells after the damage to a water tunnel on Wednesday. “The cell will take stock of the area and underground utilities before giving its nod,” said a civic senior. So far, the final nod was given by the pest control officer under the medical officer of the health department after approvals from the water department
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}