A Rs 21-crore water tank built under a government drinking water project in Gujarat’s Surat district collapsed before its inauguration, triggering a major controversy over alleged corruption and construction quality lapses.
According to India Today, the incident took place in Tadkeshwar village of Mandvi taluka under the state-run Gaypagla Group Water Supply Scheme, which is intended to supply drinking water to 33 villages in the district. The 15-metre-high tank, with a storage capacity of 11 lakh litres, collapsed during a trial run on January 19, causing panic among residents.
Officials quoted in India Today said around 9 lakh litres of water were being filled into the tank at approximately 12 noon as part of testing when the entire structure suddenly gave way and crumbled. Three labourers, including a woman, were injured in the incident. A larger tragedy was narrowly avoided as the tank had not yet been inaugurated or connected to residential water pipelines.
The collapse has dealt a serious blow to the long-delayed project and sparked allegations of large-scale corruption. Local residents claim that despite spending Rs 21 crore of public money, substandard construction materials were used.
A ground inspection of the debris revealed troubling signs, with cement layers peeling off the collapsed structure, fuelling suspicions of irregularities in the use of cement and iron. Villagers alleged that the contractor compromised on material quality to reduce costs and siphon off funds.
Deputy Engineer of the Surat Water Supply Department, Jay Somabhai Chaudhary, confirmed that the project was awarded to the “Jayanti Swaroop” agency at a cost of Rs 21 crore. He said the tank was still undergoing trial testing when it collapsed and assured that a detailed technical investigation would be carried out.
Executive Engineer Jay Chaudhary said a team of structural engineers from SVNIT (Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology), Surat, has been tasked with probing the incident. “Strict action will be taken against the contractor once the investigation report is submitted,” he said.
Residents are now demanding not only a thorough inquiry but also criminal action against officials and contractors responsible for the alleged misuse of public funds. They have insisted that only high-quality materials be used to ensure safe and reliable drinking water for the villages.
Following the incident, two officials were suspended, a local MLA said on Tuesday. Mandvi MLA Kuvarji Halpati stated that the construction company would be blacklisted if found guilty after the investigation
