Soaring temperature adds to water shortage in Jamshedpur

Jamshedpur: Residents of several areas of Jamshedpur are facing an acute water shortage, and are forced to travel about more than a kilometer to fetch drinking water. The water shortage problem is so severe that if temperature soars further several areas might not receive water at all.

According to the information, the water problem is more severe in the areas located at the tail-end of water supply system and on the city outskirts.

The impact of summer has hit early this year. The ground water level at various places has gone down considerably due to the mushrooming high-rises. Moreover due to the rising temperature the water level of two important rivers Swarnarekha and Kharkai has decreased substantially.

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 officer of MNAC.

Although, the drinking water department has got the nod from the government for setting deep borewells in the Mango area but the department apprehend the entire exercise would take weeks to get through.

The population of Mango is about two lakh and people depend on ground water and tube wells. But the process of urbanisation 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.

“Last year we bought 300 liters of water for Rs 100 imagine, what the situation would be like this year if there is no water in our taps,” said Mohammad Nizam.  

The scarcity of water was there even in the last year but this year the situation has gone further grim and we were left with no option but to ferry the water from nearest possible source we could,” said the official.

This is the first time that the railway station is also facing an unprecedented water crisis. The rain-fed Kharkai River, the main source of water supply to the station and the railway colony, has dried, causing water level at Baghbera pump house linked to the river to hit.