Residents face water shortage, but parks get direct supply

PANCHKULA: The irony is hard to miss. Many sectors in the city are facing potable water shortage, but around 170 parks are getting direct fresh water supply!
Though Panchkula has sewerage treatment plants, there is no provision to provide tertiary water to the green belts, which consume around 5 million gallons every day. Sectors 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 15, 16, 19, 21 and 25, among others, are facing the scarcity, leaving residents high and dry. “We are fed up of the low supply. Water does not reach the second and third floors, but parks are getting it in abundance,” said Rohan Bajaj, a resident of Sector 15.
“My son has shifted to Chandigarh as the water situation is grim here. The authorities should go for an alternative and provide tertiary water to parks,” said Rishabh Verma, a resident of Sector 11.
Municipal corporation executive officer O P Sihag said, “Panchkula is not facing any water problem. The city has around 170 parks and all of these are provided fresh water.”
On why there was no provision of tertiary water, he said, “Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has some proposal and I think they are working on it.” HUDA (engineering wing) superintending engineer N K Verma said, “We have a proposal for tertiary water like Chandigarh’s and we are working on it. It requires huge investment. We have sewerage treatment plants in sectors 21 and 28.”