Mango Drinking Water Project in Peril Due to Silt and Neglect, Warns Saryu Roy

Jamshedpur: Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Roy has alleged that the ambitious ₹125-crore Mango Drinking Water Project is on the brink of collapse due to administrative apathy and mismanagement. Roy stated the project is “gradually heading towards its demise” and criticized the lack of technical oversight among authorities, comparing the situation to “the blind leading the blind”.

A review of the project conducted 18 months ago revealed critical infrastructure failures. The review found nearly 10 feet of sand and silt accumulated inside the intake well, severely reducing its capacity. While workers performed partial desilting, approximately 5 to 6 feet of debris still remains. Roy warned that clogged pipelines carrying water from the river to the intake well could cause a total operational shutdown at any moment. He recommended hiring specialized industrial pipe-cleaning agencies rather than relying on routine cleaning methods.

Roy highlighted several stalled initiatives and ongoing systemic issues:

• Infrastructure Repairs: Initial corrective steps included procuring new motor pumps and reviving defunct water tanks at Prithvi Park.

• Administrative Delays: Progress halted during the transition of project control from the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department to the Mango Municipal Corporation.

• “Jugaad” Solutions: Roy dismissed the Deputy Commissioner’s recent order to release water from the Chandil Dam as a “makeshift arrangement” rather than a technically sound strategy.

• Pending Implementation: Although the municipal corporation previously contacted an industrial pipe-cleaning firm and prepared an estimate, no tangible progress has occurred.

With the summer season intensifying, Roy cautioned that continued neglect would have severe consequences for thousands of residents who depend on the project for their daily water supply.