Aurangabad Water Supply Project Testing Faces Significant Delays
The ambitious new water supply project for Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad) is encountering substantial hurdles, with authorities confirming that full-fledged testing of its critical infrastructure will take more time than anticipated. This development comes as partial testing of the nearly 38-kilometer-long main water pipeline, with a massive 2,500mm diameter, is currently underway.
Testing Capacity and Operational Challenges
Designed to handle a total capacity of 600 million liters per day (MLD), the main pipeline is presently being tested for only 100 MLD. A senior official from the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran (MJP) clarified the situation, stating, "While two pumps, each with 100 MLD pumping capacity at the jackwell, were expected to operate for testing purposes, only one is currently in operation. Citizens must not misconstrue that the ongoing testing is final or full-fledged until testing is conducted for the full 600 MLD capacity."
Contractor Performance and Project Delays
Authorities have expressed clear dissatisfaction with the project contractor's working manner. The contractor was responsible for completing all works on the Raw Water Rising Main but has failed to finish tasks such as fixing scour valves and extending the pipeline. MJP authorities emphasized, "No timeline can be specified for the full testing of the main pipeline and the ultimate commissioning of the entire project, considering the slow progress on different fronts."
Notably, the Rs 2,740 crore water supply project has already missed its March 2024 deadline and is expected to require a significant additional amount of time before final commissioning. Citizens, particularly those from areas without existing water networks, have demanded action against the contractor for allegedly slowing down the project's progress.
Pipeline Leakage and Technical Setbacks
During the partial testing, an unexpected leakage was detected in the pipeline near Dhorkin, where water had reached after testing on a 12.5-kilometer length. MJP authorities explained, "While leakages in joints and valves are normal during testing, a leakage in the pipeline itself presents a significant hurdle. This has occurred due to defective welding, even under the reduced pressure of only 100 MLD. Repairing this leakage could require several days."
The authorities stress that the ongoing testing is merely a preliminary phase and not indicative of the project's final readiness. With the leakage issue and incomplete contractor work, the timeline for achieving full operational capacity remains uncertain, prolonging the wait for improved water supply in the region.
