The Municipal Corporation (MC) of Chandigarh has announced a planned 48-hour interruption to normal water pumping from September 30 to October 1 to facilitate the replacement of a 1,200mm PSC (prestressed concrete) pipeline with a mild steel (MS) pipeline at the villages of Jhungian and Jandpur.
Why the shutdown is needed
The civic body said the shutdown is necessary to carry out the pipeline replacement work safely and to ensure long-term reliability of supply. During the exercise, pumping of raw water from the Phase-III Kajauli source to the Water Works in Sector 39 will be affected, resulting in a regulated service across the city.
When water will be available
The MC has set specific supply windows during the two days. Households and commercial establishments should note the schedule carefully and plan storage needs accordingly:
- Morning supply: 3:30 am to 9:00 am at full pressure (both Sept 30 and Oct 1)
- Evening supply: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at low pressure (both Sept 30 and Oct 1)
Officials' advisory and expected impact
The MC has urged residents to store adequate water in advance and cooperate during the shutdown. It warned that normal pumping arrangements will be affected during the two-day period, making advance storage particularly important for households, hospitals, schools, hotels and other water users.
While the MC did not quantify the number of affected households in its advisory, the reliance on the Phase-III Kajauli feed to Sector 39 Water Works indicates the interruption will have city-wide implications, especially in areas served from that treatment plant.
Project scope and budget
The replacement is part of a broader water-supply upgrade planned by the MC, with the project estimated at ₹4 crore. The switch from a 1,200mm PSC pipeline to an MS pipeline is intended to address durability and operational concerns at the identified stretches near Jhungian and Jandpur.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pipeline replaced | 1,200mm PSC → MS |
| Locations | Jhungian and Jandpur |
| Supply source affected | Phase-III Kajauli to Sector 39 Water Works |
| Shutdown dates | Sept 30–Oct 1 (48 hours) |
| Project cost | ₹4 crore (MC plan) |
What residents should do
- Fill containers during the morning full-pressure window (3:30 am–9:00 am) to meet drinking, cooking and hygiene needs for the day.
- Use the evening low-pressure period (6:00 pm–8:00 pm) for topping up and non-critical needs where possible.
- Prioritise hospitals, nursing homes and commercial establishments for additional storage; businesses dependent on continuous water supply should arrange temporary alternatives or buffer stocks.
- Avoid wastage during both days to conserve available water.
Official request and next steps
The MC has requested cooperation from residents while the replacement work is carried out and said normal pumping arrangements are expected to be affected only during the specified two-day period. No alternate bulk water distribution schedule or tanker plan was announced in the advisory issued with the shutdown notice.
Water-supply upgrades of this scale are routinely timed to minimise disruption but can still strain households and critical services. Residents are advised to keep emergency numbers of the MC and local water officials handy in case unplanned issues arise during the shutdown.
“Residents are urged to store adequate water in advance and cooperate during the shutdown period,” the MC said in its advisory.
The MC will be monitoring progress on the replacement work; any change to the timings or extension of the shutdown would be communicated through official channels.
