It’s high time we raised a stink, instead of becomingvictims of it. The 40 year old asbestos cement lining on the pipelines runningthrough the arterial 18th June road have given way after rampant digging ofroads to lay other service pipelines. This led to sewage water lines breakingup and leaking filth into drinking water lines.
Executive engineer water supply Dileep Dhawalikar said thatthe AC (Asbestos Cement) pipeline which carries sanitary water is more than 40year old. He said “We initiated a tender in 2007 we have been unable to getpermissions to dig up the roads “.
Panaji has 17 kilometers of AC (Asbestos Cement) pipelinescattered below its commercial roads. The pipeline was positioned in the mid-60and was the first service provider line laid in Panajim. This was followed bylines for the supply of electricity, BSNL lines, sewage pipeline and the municipalitysaid Dhawlikar, the executive engineer of water supply department.
In 2003 BSNL dug up the entire stretch of 18th June Road tolay underground cables. This led to sewage water lines breaking up and leakingfilth into drinking water lines. The incident resulted in an outbreak ofjaundice leaving a couple of people dead. The archaic water pipeline near SatkarHotel on 18th June Road runs lower than the sewage line. Every bout of repairsleaves the drinking water line to the mercy of the elements. The problem getscompounded during rains when water seeps into the line. The major breakage tookplace in 2003 and 2005 in Panjim followed by minor break’s every year. “The ACpipe is made up of Asbestos cement which controls heavy internal pressure butnot outside pressure” Dhawlikar said.
He said that the carelessness displayed by the other serviceproviders resulted in problems. He felt it was time the government created acoordination committee for road management at least for the city of Panaji. Hesaid “if the authorities sit together and create a plan then these accidentswill not happen.“
He felt the main problem would occur on the 18th June road.He said “ We will take this up on a priority basis after the government gives us the permission to dig upthe road. It will take three months We lose six months due to the monsoons andthe rest of the year is taken by occasions like Christmas, new year, IFFI,Carnival parade, Shigmo, feast etc.
Dhawlikar said “We are in a process of re-tendering for thereplacement of the Ac pipeline over 17 km in a phased manner. It will bereplaced by Ductile iron pipes which are very strong and can handle externalpressure. The pipes are ready now and all that remains is execution of the workafter receiving approvals”.
Sources in the water supply department said that was verydifficult to detect the breakup on the 18th June road due to the thickness ofthe road. The source said “We found 5-6 layers of the road when we attempted tosearch for the breakup. We have a water leakage detective machine but it is noteffective due to the thickness of the road."
