Everyday battle

Ranchi, April 17: With the onset of summer, water problems have doubled. The drinking water and sanitation department has received as many as 185 complaints from across the state in just 15 days.

Complaints have poured in about defunct tubewells after the department came up with a toll-free number.

So far, the concerned division of the department has been able to repair only 50-odd tubewells, exposing the flaws in redressal mechanism at the ground level.

An engineer of the department deputed in the redressal task said majority of the complaints are from Santhal Pargana, Palamau, Seraikela-Kharsawan, Dhanbad and Lohardaga.

“Till now, the redressal percentage has been low. But at least we are trying to address the problem and adjudge the condition of tubewells before the temperature rises further,” he said.

But according to the working of the redressal forum, the repair work should be done within 72 hours of the complaint.

Drinking water department assistant engineer Anil Kumar said that there are over two lakh tubewells across the state and at present they are only entertaining those complaints which need minor repair works so as to ensure water supply within 72 hours of complaint.

But the complaints have brought out in the open many related problems.

“A Lohardaga complainant said that the water supply through the pipe has become irregular. After inquiry, it was found that the river bed is fast drying up with the onset of summer,” said Kumar.

Engineer-in-chief of the department Sajjad Hasan said: “Minor repair works of tubewells have been executed but we have not been able to redress the problems in many cases which is because our field staff are on election duty. Things are expected to improve after April 23.”