A major pipeline carrying drinking water to Gujjangundla Reservoir burst on Monday evening catching the GMC Engineering staff by surprise.
The 55-year pipeline made of Cast Iron with a diameter of 300 dia burst underground in front of NTR Municipal Stadium in Brindavan Garden Centre severely derailing the water supply to areas which fall under Gujjangundla reservoir.
Traffic was derailed on the Lakshmipuram Road and the GMC Engineering staff commenced relaying the pipeline after digging up the surface. Vehicular movement was stopped on the left side of the road. It would take at least a week to fill up the gravel and relay the road.
The areas where water supply was disturbed on Monday and Tuesday were, Gujjangundla, SVN Colony etc.
``The pipelines are very old and as a result are breaking down. We are hoping to replace the existing pipe with a new pipe by Wednesday morning and resume pumping water by Wednesday afternoon,'' Executive Engineer, Guntur Municipal Corporation, Surendra Babu said. Water supply to the affected areas would be partially restored by Wednesday afternoon, he added.
But the frequent bursting of pipe lines has been causing consternation among the public. Last month, the main water pipe line carrying water to HLRs at Lakshmipuram burst disrupting the supply of water.
Each time, the pipe lines burst the GMC figs up a trench and replace the existing pipe line with a new pipe line. Usually, it takes at least 15 days to relay the road and complete the patch works.
Municipal Commissioner, GMC, K. Sudhakar said that they have identified worn out pipe lines in One Town and would replace them in a phased manner.
