Video Editor: Varun Sharma, Mohd Irshad Alam
Video Producer: Aastha Gulati
Jharkhand’s Deoghar is facing a severe water crisis. Water is available for hardly a day or two in a week, or sometimes even 15 days in most parts of the city. As of June, rivers and wells are close to drying up and hand pumps and taps do not supply water either. The government is of no help and isn’t listening to the people’s woes.
People I spoke to expressed worry at the water shortage this early in June. They fear what might happen during the rest of summer if this continues.
Residents say that a major reason for their pani ki pareshani is the lack of electricity. Regular cuts interrupt the water supply. A special feeder from the Power Department can provide some respite, they say.
The Water Corporation has divided the urban area into Zone One and Zone Two. Both regions are grappling with the shortage of drinking water. Pumps and tanks supply water to houses. However, if water is supplied only a couple of times in a week or even 15 days, the problems the residents are facing can be easily predicted.
“We get desperate for drinking water. Even tap water comes once in 10 days, and that too for half an hour. The water we drink out of the hand pump makes our throats itch. What should we do? We then have no option but to buy the water.”Sundari Devi
Recently, a proposal to provide two hand pumps to every ward was made. But no hand pumps have been installed as yet. Moreover, many places in the city do not have a pipeline. It has been decided to extend the pipeline to these places. Where there is water in the pipeline, it is wasted due to leakages.
The situation is worse in villages, causing deep resentment among the people.
Authorities’ Response
An officer of Deoghar’s Drinking Water and Sanitation Department told me that in the city, the water pipeline supplies water to every household. However, in the last two years, little rainfall has caused the rivers to dry up. He added,
“Work under phase three of the ‘Punasi Jalasaya Yojana’ is ongoing. Within a year, a pipeline will be laid and every household will have water.”Bacchan Prasad Gupta
My question is: Will the people of Deoghar stay thirsty for a year?
(The author is a freelance journalist based in Deoghar. All 'My Report' branded stories are submitted by citizen journalists to The Quint. Though The Quint inquires into the claims/allegations from all parties before publishing, the report and the views expressed above are the citizen journalist's own. The Quint neither endorses, nor is responsible for the same.)
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