Nagpur City faced a severe water crisis due to a major power outage at the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited (MSETCL) substation. The sudden disruption in the power supply caused significant damage to the 33KV main electricity lines, leading to a halt in the pumping of water from the Navegaon Khairi pumping station to Gorewada’s purification centres.
The Navegaon Khairi pumping station supplies treated water from purification centres, including Pench-1, Pench-2, Pench-3, and Pench-4, located in Gorewada, and the Godhani purification centre. However, the power outage at the MSETCL substation interrupted the supply of raw water to these purification centres, aggravating the water scarcity situation in Nagpur.
The power disruption occurred on June 21, at 2:30 PM, immediately impacting Nagpur’s water supply. Approximately 80% of the city experienced a water shortage, affecting households, businesses, and public services. The situation worsened today, with the continuation of the power outage, posing a threat to the water supply for the upcoming day, June 24.
The affected purification centres and their respective feeder lines are as follows:
- Pench-1 Purification Center: Gandhi Bagh Zone, Birdi Feeder Line, Chavni Water Channel, Raj Bhavan Water Channel, Itarsi Water Channel, Sadar Feeder Line, and Gorewada Water Channel (Mangalwari Zone) Boriyapura Feeder Line (Sataranjipura Zone), Vanjari Nagar Old Line, Vanjari Nagar New Line, Hanuman Nagar, and Reshimbagh Water Supply Division.
- Pench-2 and Pench-3 Purification Centers: Laxmi Nagar Zone (Gayatri Nagar, Pratap Nagar, Khatala, Laxmi Nagar Old, Takli Sim, Jaitala, Trimurti Nagar), Dharampeth Zone (Ram Nagar, Seminar Hills New, Seminar Hills Old, Civil Lines DT, Dhamangaon Colony, Tekdi Wadi, Raifal Line, Futala Line), Hanuman Nagar Zone (Chinchbhavan), Mangalwari Zone (Gitikhadan), Gandhi Bagh Zone (Boriyapura/Khadan, Mahal Fort 1 and Fort 2).
- Godhani Purification Center (Pench-4): Nara Water Channel, Nari/Jaripatka Water Channel (Ashi Nagar Zone), Dhanoli Water Channel (Dharampeth Zone), Laxmi Nagar Water Channel (Laxmi Nagar Zone), Nalanda Nagar, Shri Nagar, Omkar Nagar 1 and 2, Mhalgi Nagar Water Supply, Sakkar Dara 1, 2, and 3 (Nehru Nagar Zone).
The Nagpur Municipal Corporation and Orange City Water have urged all citizens to cooperate during this water crisis. Repairs are currently underway to restore the power supply and resume water pumping operations at the affected purification centres. The authorities are working diligently to resolve the situation and minimize the inconvenience caused to the residents of Nagpur.
The residents have been advised to conserve water and use it judiciously until the issue is resolved. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation and Orange City Water will provide updates on the progress of repairs and any developments regarding the water supply crisis.
The authorities remain committed to resolving the issue promptly and ensuring an uninterrupted water supply to the citizens of Nagpur.