Principal Secretary orders probe into Jamshedpur’s Mango Water Project

Saryu Roy flags 10 years of negligence and poor oversight

 Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, May 28: Acting on the request of Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Roy, the Principal Secretary of the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department has approved a detailed investigation into the functioning of the Mango Water Supply Project over the past 10 years. The demand follows serious concerns raised by Roy after an on-site inspection.

On Tuesday, Roy visited the project’s intake well and water treatment plant along with department officials and the contractor. During the inspection, he discovered significant negligence. Algae and aquatic weeds had taken over the intake area, blocking the water inflow. Out of six pumps, two were completely non-functional and one was operating partially. More alarmingly, there is no record of how much water is being drawn or where it is being supplied.

Roy immediately ordered the site to be cleaned and instructed the Executive Engineer that such poor conditions defeat the very purpose of the project. At the treatment plant, he noted that all automated systems were defunct and operations were being carried out manually without any scientific dosage standards for chlorine and alum. The lab technician admitted he was simply following senior directives and the data provided appeared unreliable.

The MLA highlighted severe bias in water distribution across zones. Zone 6 receives ample supply, while Zones 1 to 5 face scarcity—Zone 3’s tank empties in under 30 minutes. No mechanism exists to monitor water flow across zones. Roy added that Zone 6 has a dedicated rising pipeline, while Zones 1 to 5 share a single one, a decision that lacks transparency.

Expressing dissatisfaction with previous superficial inspections, Roy urged the Principal Secretary to form a high-level committee of senior officials to investigate all aspects of the project, including irregularities in water supply and system operations. The Principal Secretary has agreed to form the committee.

Roy emphasized that without accountability and corrective action against responsible individuals, the project—which has already consumed Rs 125 crore—will never fulfil its objective.

Dangling high-voltage cable tightened following Saryu’s action

Jamshedpur, May 27: Following persistent safety concerns from residents, a dangerously hanging 11,000-volt cable in Sidhu Kanhu Basti (Zone No. 2, Sonari) was finally secured on Tuesday, thanks to intervention by Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Roy.

The cable had been hanging loosely for nearly two years, posing a serious risk to the densely populated settlement. Residents had been living in fear of a potential electrocution or fire hazard. Acting on Roy’s directive, the electricity department addressed the issue by tightening the cable and installing a new transformer.

The work was overseen by Roy’s public service representatives Mukul Mishra, Atul Singh, Ganesh Sharma and Manoj Kerai, who inspected the site and expressed satisfaction over the completed task. Local residents extended their gratitude to the MLA for resolving a long-standing safety threat and restoring peace of mind in the community.