MLA proposes PS- Health Department, water supply from Dimna Lake and Satnala Dam
Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, Jan 29: Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Roy has strongly opposed the use of underground water in the newly constructed building of MGM Hospital, urging the Principal Secretary of the Health Department to halt deep boring immediately. He warned that continued deep boring would lead to the depletion of hand pumps in surrounding areas, creating difficulties for the general public.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Roy emphasized that environmental clearance for the hospital does not include provisions for using underground water. He pointed out that, as per the approved plan, the Municipal Corporation is supposed to supply 300 lakh litres of water daily to MGM Hospital. The total requirement is estimated at 500 lakh litres, with the remaining water to be treated and reused within the facility.
Saryu Roy has put forward two key suggestions to ensure a sustainable water supply for MGM Hospital. His first proposal is that Tata Steel should provide a direct connection from Dimna Lake, as water from the lake already flows to Jamshedpur via Mango. This would be a logical and efficient way to meet the hospital’s water requirements without causing environmental harm.
His second suggestion is to utilize the abundant water supply from Satnala Dam near Pardih. Since the dam is located at a higher altitude, water can be transported through gravity-based pipelines, making it a cost-effective and time-efficient solution. Roy emphasized that this approach would ensure a steady and clean water supply for MGM Hospital while also benefiting the residents of Mango.
Roy criticized the state government, stating that no arrangements had been made in the last five years to secure a sustainable water supply for MGM Hospital. He added that the hasty shifting of the OPD to the new building, just before elections, was done without proper planning.
“The authorities have failed to consider where the hospital’s water will come from. The Chief Minister and Health Minister ignored this crucial issue for years and now, instead of finding viable solutions, they are resorting to deep boring, which is against environmental norms,” Roy stated.
He also expressed concerns over reports that the Health Department is planning to extract water from the Swarnarekha River for MGM Hospital. Calling it an expensive and time-consuming plan, Roy argued that it would take at least two and a half years and yield poor-quality water. In contrast, bringing water from Satnala Dam via a pipeline would take just six months and provide clean, pure water for both the hospital and residents of Mango.
“I have informed the Deputy Commissioner of East Singhbhum that using underground water is not permitted under environmental clearance. It is shocking that borings have already been conducted and more are planned. These must be stopped immediately,” Roy asserted.
He urged the government to prioritize the Dimna Lake and Satnala Dam options to ensure MGM Hospital has a sustainable and safe water supply without harming the environment.
