Civic authorities today sent 40 tankers to Ashwini Kumar, one of the worst affected areas. Water supply was also disrupted in Kapodara where seven water tankers were pressed into service today.

The French well, installed in 1981, had to be closed because of heavy siltation and turbidity, an engineer from the hydraulic department told Express Newsline.

The decision to close the French and infiltration wells was taken four days ago. Ever since the two wells become inoperative, water pressure has fallen considerably in Varachha, said a resident of the area.

Fortunately, there has been no major crisis as most of the city gets water from the Katargam water works. However, there is a need for replacing the French well, SMC's water committee chairman Limbachiya said.

Since it has become a perennial problem, new waterworks should be set up, said Limbachiya. He claimed that he had written to the Municipal Commissioner and the standing committee chairman asking them to expedite the work on new water works. Tenders have been invited, but for some unknown reasons the work order has not been issued, he said. The design for the proposed 120 MLD water works, to be set up in Sarthana, is ready, he claimed.

A senior civic official said the problem will be over in a couple of days. ``The French well and infiltration well will become operational very soon'', he said. Moreover, a new 120 MLD water works in Katargam will be commissioned sometime in September-October, he announced. ``After this new water works is commissioned there would be no scarcity of water for some years to come'', he claimed.