Jamshedpur, May 19: Local residents led by BJP staged a dharna-cum-demonstration at the office of drinking water and sanitation department in Mango on Thursday to protest against dirty drinking water supplies in the locality.
The agitating residents complained that they were getting dirty and unhygienic water for the last few days. “Though we brought the matter to the attention of drinking water and sanitation department, but to no avail,” said a resident. The protest was led by Vikas Singh of BJP.
Although, the drinking water department has got the nod from the government for setting deep bore wells in the Mango area but the department apprehend the entire exercise would take weeks to get through.
The population of Mango is about 200,000 and people depend on ground water and tube wells. But the process of urbanization decreased recharge and increased withdrawal of ground water. Moreover, a huge amount of ground water is pumped out for residential, industrial and commercial use. Similar is the situation at Jugsalai, Pursidih, Karandih and Kitadih.
Local residents said that supply of extra water is necessary in Mango and other areas owing to the increasing demand and although the construction of water pipe line has began-it will be completed only by next year.
The Mango Notified Area Committee, (MNAC) which acts as a municipal body to oversee the day-to-day municipal requirements of about 1.80 lakh population is concerned over the plight of its residents but says it is helpless. �We do understand the fact that this summer is going to be very bothering for us but drinking water and sanitation department will have take care of this matter,� said official of MNAC.
�The condition of the water is such that one would think twice before using it even for toilet. We have no choice but to use it for drinking,� said a resident of Mango. He said that many a times the residents have lodged complains at the municipality but nothing has been done so far. Situation has worsened from past one week and dirty water is being supplied.
A senior DWS official (East Singhbhum) on the condition of anonymity said that the compartments of the settling plant have not been cleaned for months due to lack of funds. �We have limited funds. We can�t use limestone, bleaching power and other chemicals for treating water supplied by the company. The company supplies raw water, which needs to be treated before being pumped into the water tower,� he said.