A perpetual wait for water
Residents in several old city areas remain awake at night awaiting water supply; Jal Sansthan blames illegal connections and breaches in pipelines
LUCKNOW: Even though the summer is yet to set in properly, several areas in the state capital are parched, for want of adequate water supply.
Chowk, Sondhi Tola, Chaupatian, Thakurganj, Azad Nagar, Natkhera, Rakabganj, Subhan Nagar, Subhash Nagar and Kundari are facing severe problem due to unscheduled water supply. People have to remain awake till late night, awaiting water supply. During the day, there are no fixed hours of water supply in these areas. The causes can be many, but as for cure, there is none.
According to the locals, many of the tube-wells are not functioning to their full capcity in the absence of maintenance after installation. “It is very sad that despite having a number of tube-wells, Kundari Rakabganj is struggling for water. We have been facing water crisis for the past five years but no one has ever offered a solution,” said Anoop Nigam of Kundari.
However, secretary Jal Sansthan Raghvendra Kumar said, “The residents can report any hindrance in water supply to us. We are there to solve the problems. The Jal Sansthan has made massive efforts to improve water supply by re-boring of 21 tube-wells in the city. But yes, there are some damaged water supply pipelines in Rakabganj, Yahiyaganj , Kundari and in other parts of the city where residents have breached the pipelines .”
“One leakage in a Jal Sansthan pipeline means loss of 1 lakh litres per day. There is an urgent need to control this damage or else the state capital would face severe water crisis in future. Proper handling of resources must be a priority for the residents too. If they complain about unscheduled water supply, then they must also report the breach in pipeline so that we can repair it,” said Kumar.
Presently, the Jal Sansthan supplies water to 3.20 lakh houses but 1.35-lakh house get illegal supply through the Sansthan pipelines. The Jal Sansthan officials admit that 30% water connections in the city are unauthorised.
“These connections are a big headache for the Jal Sansthan. They not only hamper uninterrupted water supply but also act as a gateway to epidemics during summer,” said mayor Dinesh Sharma .
The Jal Sansthan is currently running a scheme to legalise connections after taking nominal charges to stop breaches in pipelines. Officials claim that breaches in waterlines not only cause water loss but also contamination.
According to the American Journal of Public Health, 35% of all reported gastro-intestinal illnesses are water-related and preventable. But given the quality of water supply in state capital, the situation could be dangerous, said Dr PK Gupta, an Indian Medical Association office-bearer. “It is the responsibility of the Jal Sansthan to ensure safe water supply and stop passing the buck,” he said.