Gaya: Amid mounting complaints of irregular water supply during the ongoing heatwave, District Magistrate Shashank Shubhankar conducted a surprise inspection of the Singra Sthan water supply centre on Wednesday. The inspection was carried out along with Municipal Commissioner Abhishek Palasiya and officials of the Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (BUIDCO).
Discrepancies Found During Inspection
During the visit, the district magistrate identified several discrepancies in the functioning of the facility. Taking a serious view of the lapses, Shubhankar issued showcause notices to the executive engineer and assistant engineer of BUIDCO, seeking an explanation. He also ordered immediate withholding of their salaries pending further review.
Background of Complaints
The issue of inadequate water supply had been raised a day earlier at the empowered standing committee meeting of the Gaya Municipal Corporation. Members expressed concern over the absence of BUIDCO officials from civic meetings and proposed informing the Urban Development Department, Magadh Division Commissioner, and the District Magistrate in writing. Expressing displeasure over complaints received over the past four days, the DM also took note of a non-functional sluice valve lying unattended near the police lines. He climbed to the top of the overhead tank to assess water levels and instructed officials to adhere strictly to supply timings.
Operational Details
Officials informed that the centre operates two overhead tanks with capacities of 4 MLD and 4.24 MLD. While filling the tanks takes around 7–8 hours, water discharge is completed within 40–45 minutes.
Corrective Measures Ordered
Directing urgent corrective measures, Shubhankar ordered round-the-clock deployment of staff to monitor operations and ensure uninterrupted supply during the heatwave. He emphasised that water must reach tail-end areas with adequate pressure during both morning and evening supply cycles. The municipal commissioner was asked to initiate strict action under disaster management norms if the situation does not improve promptly.
Localities Affected
Singra Sthan centre supplies water to several localities, including Anugrah Puri, Chandauti, Mustafabad, Magadh Medical area, Chanakyapuri, police lines, Gewalbigha, and Munni Masjid.
