Water supply in parts of the Ramnagar Command Area (CA) of Dharampeth Zone has been severely disrupted after a 200 mm diameter OCW water pipeline was damaged four times within the last five days due to construction activities by a third-party contractor.
According to officials, the repeated damage led to a surge in complaints at the OCW Call Centre from residents of Pandharabodhi, Hill Top, Jay Nagar and Sewa Nagar, who reported prolonged disruption and complete absence of water supply.
Details shared by OCW show that the first incident occurred on December 13, 2025, when the pipeline was damaged during cement road construction work. On December 16, the same main pipeline was again damaged near the residence of Parinay Fuke during construction activities. Later the same day, another leakage was reported near the socket end of the pipeline, around three metres away from the earlier damage point. The fourth instance of damage to the same pipeline was reported on December 17.
Officials said the repeated damage has not only caused recurring disruption to regular water supply but has also significantly weakened the affected stretch of the pipeline, making it permanently vulnerable to leakages. OCW carried out emergency repair works after each incident to restore supply at the earliest.
However, OCW officials said such avoidable damage to critical water infrastructure causes serious inconvenience to citizens and affects the long-term reliability of the water distribution network. To prevent similar incidents in the future, OCW has proposed that all third-party agencies must mandatorily verify underground utility and pipeline locations in coordination with the operator before starting any excavation work, especially those involving HDD or mechanised trenching.
OCW has also called for the adoption and strict enforcement of a formal Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for pre-dig verification and alignment clearance prior to execution of any work. The organisation has urged concerned contractors and executing agencies to exercise utmost caution during construction activities and strictly follow utility safety norms to avoid further damage to essential water supply infrastructure.
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