Residents in administrative and electoral ward number 13 of Vadodara Municipal Corporation are grappling with ongoing water issues due to an outdated, 40-year-old pumping station. Approximately 35,000 people in the area are suffering from poor drainage water disposal and contaminated drinking water, problems exacerbated by the station's antiquated machinery.
During a recent general board meeting of the corporation, a senior Congress corporator from the affected ward highlighted the pressing issues. He revealed that the pumping station, dating back to the Gaekwadi era, is located near the SSC board office in the Navapura area. Although the station's high-capacity pumps sufficed for the smaller population at the time of its construction, the area now faces numerous problems due to outdated technology and a significantly increased population.
The corporator also emphasized that the station's low-capacity pumps have been unable to meet the community's needs. Several complaints and representations have been made over time, urging the corporation to address frequent drainage choke-ups and waste water issues that plague the pumping stations.
In response, the corporation announced that it has initiated the tender process for upgrading the Navapura pumping station and replacing its obsolete machinery. Interestingly, the first attempt to attract tenders was unsuccessful, prompting the corporation to re-invite bids for the project.
The second tender invitation is seen as a critical step in resolving the area's water issues. However, residents remain anxious as they await concrete actions to replace the dilapidated pumping station that has become a chronic problem for the community.
