3-day Narmada water shutdown in Indore:Western areas hit due to pipeline repair, solar plant commissioning at Jalud

Indore will face a major water supply disruption till February 21 as the Municipal Corporation undertakes a large-scale shutdown of the Narmada Phase I and II projects. The move is aimed at repairing a damaged 1200 mm pipeline at Vanchu Point and commissioning a new solar power plant at Jalud funded through Rs 350 crore green bond. Officials said the 1200 mm pipeline was damaged earlier this month, leading to heavy wastage of treated drinking water. The damaged section will now be replaced and connected to a new line. The repair work, along with multiple maintenance activities, is expected to take nearly 48 hours. Solar plant charging behind shutdown The shutdown also coincides with the charging and commissioning of the newly constructed solar power plant at Jalud. The project has been developed through funds raised under a Rs350 crore green bond initiative. Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav said the plant is fully ready but requires technical charging before being made operational. For charging the solar plant, the pumping station that supplies water to Indore has to be temporarily shut. Because of this, water supply across the western part of the city will remain suspended for two days, the Mayor said. He added that the project has been completed within the stipulated financial timeline and only technical integration remains before it becomes operational. 30 overhead water tanks to remain empty Due to the shutdown, more than 30 overhead tanks in the western region will not be filled during the two-day period. Direct supply from Annapurna and Bilawali tanks will remain affected on February 19 and 20. On February 20 and 21, areas dependent on tanks likely to remain empty will face supply disruption. These include Annapurna, Chhatribaag, Raj Mohalla, MOG Line, Lokmanya Nagar, Dravid Nagar, Maharana Pratap Nagar, Jinsi Hat Maidan, Tigariya Badshah, Subhash Chowk, Sadar Bazaar, Gandhi Hall, Malhar Ashram, Scheme No. 103, Kushwah Mohalla, Banganga and Jai Hind Nagar. Multiple maintenance works planned Apart from pipeline replacement, extensive maintenance will be carried out at the 180 MLD sub-station at 132 KV Chhotti Khargone. This includes transformer oil top-up, servicing of CT transformers, isolators, insulators and conductors. Maintenance of 33 KV transmission lines, replacement of electrical components, servicing of 400 KW VT motor pumps at the old intake well, cleaning of submersible pumps in the Narmada River, air valve servicing on the 2134 mm MS pipeline, and cleaning of channels and clarifier tanks at the 363 MLD Bhaklai treatment plant are also scheduled. Connections of pending water lines in Jalud, along with major pipeline connections at IT Park and Rajiv Gandhi Square, will be completed during the shutdown period. Tanker supply assured Mayor Bhargav assured residents that water will be supplied through tankers in affected areas. We have arranged three to four tankers in every ward to ensure residents do not face severe inconvenience. Citizens are requested to cooperate for two days so that the city can benefit from affordable and sustainable solar-powered water supply in the future, he said. Civic officials have appealed to residents to store adequate water in advance and use it judiciously during the shutdown period. Regular supply is expected to resume once the repair and commissioning works are completed.