₹21 crore water tank collapses before inauguration in Surat district, probe ordered

A water tank constructed at a cost of ₹21 crore under a government drinking water project collapsed during a trial run in Gujarat’s Surat district, even before its inauguration.

The incident took place on January 19 in Tadkeshwar village of Mandvi taluka under the state’s Gaypagla Group Water Supply Scheme. The 15-metre-high tank, with a storage capacity of 11 lakh litres, was being tested when it suddenly gave way and collapsed, triggering panic in the area.

Officials said that around 9 lakh litres of water had been filled into the structure at about noon as part of a trial when the tank crumbled. Three labourers, including a woman, sustained injuries in the incident. A major tragedy was averted, as the tank had not yet been inaugurated or connected to water supply lines.

The collapse has dealt a significant blow to the project, which was intended to supply drinking water to 33 villages in Surat district. 

Local alleged that poor materials were used despite spending ₹21 crore, pointing to possible large-scale irregularities.

A preliminary inspection of the site revealed layers of cement peeling off the debris, further fuelling allegations of poor workmanship and misuse of materials. Villagers accused the contractor of compromising on quality to reduce costs and siphon off funds.

Deputy Engineer of the Surat Water Supply Department Jay Somabhai Chaudhary reportedly stated that the project had been awarded to Jayanti Swaroop agency at a cost of ₹21 crore. He said the tank was still under trial at the time of the collapse and that a detailed technical investigation would be carried out.

Executive Engineer Jay Chaudhary said a team of structural experts from Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT), Surat, had been assigned to investigate the incident. “Strict action will be taken against the contractor once the investigation report is submitted,” he said.

Local residents, however, expressed anger and disbelief. Abu Bakar, a resident of Tadkeshwar, reportedly stated that villagers had waited for nearly three years in the hope of receiving clean drinking water. “The tank collapsed even before water could reach our homes. If this had happened after the inauguration, many lives could have been lost,” he said.

Residents have demanded not only a thorough inquiry but also criminal action against those responsible, insisting that accountability be fixed and that only high-quality materials be used to ensure a safe and reliable drinking water supply for villages.