By Apurva Bhatt
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has completed the repair work on the Tansa main pipeline. The civic body had imposed a 20 per cent water cut in the city after the 80-year-old Tansa main pipeline burst in Thane on Saturday afternoon.
The 1,800 mm-diameter pipeline burst at Padwal Nagar and water from it flooded the nearby slums, resulting in 20 percent water cut for the city. “We had to stop supply from the Tansa main to carry out repairs. The 20% water cut was imposed with immediate effect.We have completed the repair work and restored normal water supply. It appears the old pipeline was damaged by wear and tear. We have sent a team of eight personnel to the spot to fix the leak,” said Ramesh Bambale, hydraulic engineer, BMC.
Nearly 15 houses collapsed and several other structures were flooded following the burst. Nearly 5,000 people were affected. Four men, Kamal Dukale, Jagan Gunjal, Mahadu Jadhav and Ramla Harijan, were seriously injured. Nearly 18 people were admitted to various hospitals, including a woman Sonabai Dukle, who has been admitted for trauma. Guardian Minister and Thane MLA Eknath Shinde was among the first to reach the spot and took part in the rescue operation.
“Affected people have been provided shelters in MMRDA tenements and a few injured people have been admitted in private hospitals ITpark. I spoke to the CM, who has assured help for the affected people,” said Shinde.
Tansa lake can store up to 1,35,713 million litres and it provides 10.5% of the daily 3,750 million litres water distributed to the city. Work on the underground water tunnel to improve the supply of water from the Bhandup treatment plant to the western suburbs and the south-west part of Mumbai would complete next year, added Bambale.
Divided into three parts —Maroshi-Vakola (5.83 km), Vakola-Mahim (4.55 km) and Mahim-Ruparel College (1.86 km) — the tunnel will ensure uninterrupted water supply to these areas.
A civic official said the tunnel was planned keeping in mind the city’s projected water demand till 2025. “It will carry about 700 million litres of water per day,” the official said.
