To halt ruptures, BMC to assess condition of old water pipelines

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has invited private companies to help it assess the conditions of old water pipelines in the city, said a BMC official, adding that four companies had expressed willingness to take up the task.

So far, BMC periodically repairs or replace the pipelines that it knows to be old. This is the first time that a study of old pipelines is being conducted.

The BMC's recent move comes months after three water pipelines burst, causing water cuts in various parts of the island city.

Last week a pipeline ruptured near Reay Road railway station, following which water supply was curtailed in the B, E wards and parts of the A ward for three days. The burst pipeline had been in poor condition, and BMC authorities said it will be repaired in the next two months.

This was the latest in a series of pipeline ruptures in the last couple of months, that led to considerable wastage of water.

In September, the Tansa main supply pipeline burst near Tilak Nagar railway station. In August, a 150-year-old Tansa pipeline, measuring 1,800 mm, burst at Vartak Nagar in Thane, following which the BMC had to impose a 25 percent water cut in the island city and western suburbs. The BMC had also implemented a 10 percent cut in eastern suburbs.

As per the BMC records, the civic body has replaced 5.51 lakh metres of pipeline and repaired 3.60 lakh m so far. In 2013-2014, 32,740 m were replaced and 1,500 m were repaired.