The storm that hit various parts of the district on Friday, also caused damage to power supply lines in Parseoni sub-division of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL). This resulted in a major power failure at Navegaon Khairy dam and Kanhan pumping station of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC).

 

Owing to this, Orange City Water (OCW) officials said, citizens in Dharampeth, Laxmi Nagar, Gandhibagh, and Dhantoli Zones and area covered by Boriyapura feeder main shall receive ‘no or restricted water supply’ for the next few days. However, in a press release issued later, MSEDCL stated that power supply to Navegaon Khairy dam was switched to 33 KV Gondegaon line and power supply to NMC’s water supply scheme was restored.

 

According to OCW, storm caused a major power failure at Navegaon Khairy dam at 3 pm and at Kanhan pumping station at 4 pm. The power supply to Kanhan pumping station was restored at 5 pm and normal pumping resumed. However, it added, the intensity of the dry storm at Navegaon Khairy was so intense that MSEDCL declared a major power breakdown. “Their (MSEDCL’s) patrolling team was searching for the fault on high-tension feeder from Mansar to Parseoni,” added a press release issued by OCW.

 

The pumping failure at Navegaon Khairy adversely impacted water supply to Nagpur city as pumping from Pench-I, Pench-II, and Pench-III stopped at 4:30 pm. As there was no water even at the hydrants to fill up tankers, the citizens were deprived of even emergency water supply.

 

OCW stated that it was almost sixth day in continuation that the city’s water supply was adversely affected due to power failure at Navegaon Khairy pumping station or low water level in Navegaon Khairy dam.

Pench-I, Pench-II, Pench-III, and Pench-IV Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) receive raw water for treatment from Navegaon Khairy dam pumping station. The depleting level of Navegaon Khairy dam has added to the water woes of the city. Besides, there is ‘literally no water left’ in Gorewada lake to be utilised in these plants, any interruptions in pumping due to power failure or low water level from Navegaon Khairy dam directly affects clear water pumping from Pench-I, Pench-II, Pench-III, and Pench-IV WTPs to the city.

 

NMC and OCW have appealed to the citizens to store sufficient water in advance. Also, they have appealed to the citizens to use potable water judiciously and carefully and co-operate.

Meanwhile, MSEDCL stated in a press release that storm on Friday affected power supply to 33 KV Navegaon power line. Kuldeep Bhasme, Executive Engineer of Saoner Division of MSEDCL, acted in time. He decided to switch power supply to 33 KV Gondegaon line and restored power supply to NMC’s water supply facility. MSEDCL team comprising Rajesh Machhale, Deputy Executive Engineer, was working on war-footing to restore power supply in remaining areas of Parseoni Division, it added.