Amritsar:Water from the Sultanwind Canal entered densely populated residential areas after the canal was damaged during the installation of a pipeline for the Surface Water Supply Project, with water reportedly reaching houses and streets in Sahibzada Jujhar Singh Nagar and Bhai Maan Singh Road.
Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla visited the affected site and took stock of the situation. He said preliminary observations pointed to negligence during execution of the project and assured that the incident would be investigated to fix responsibility.
Aujla said a private company was laying a pipeline beneath the canal using a pressure-based method when the canal was breached and water began flowing towards the adjoining residential areas.
“Special precautions were required while carrying out work beneath a flowing canal. The incident needs to be investigated to ascertain why adequate arrangements were not made to control the water,” Aujla said.
He said water had entered residential areas and caused inconvenience to residents, adding that the losses suffered by affected families would also be assessed.
Aujla said around 57 overhead water tanks were being constructed under the Surface Water Supply Project and would be supplied through pipelines. The project was important for providing better-quality drinking water to residents, particularly in view of deteriorating groundwater quality, he said.
However, he stressed that the execution of such a major project could not come at the cost of public safety.
Aujla said the concerned department and the private company would be held accountable if negligence was established during the inquiry. He also called for immediate steps to control the water flow, drain affected areas and assess damage to homes and property.
Officials and field staff were engaged in relief and containment efforts at the site. Aujla said the investigation should also identify the specific point at which the lapse occurred and ensure that adequate technical and safety measures were followed during the remaining work.