Irregular and erratic water supply has left residents of Gandhinagar CCL Colony in Ranchi high and dry as they stare at the coming harsh summer months.
The problem started about a week ago when two of the four deep boring pumps went kaput, as the water table depleted. Of the remaining two, one is operated partially. Hence, the 3,000-odd residents are made to depend solely on only the one deep boring pump in the locality.
Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) authorities, who are in-charge of the drinking water supply in the colony, conceded the problem.
"Troubles started with the depleting water table. It will be solved only with arrival of the monsoon. Two deep boring pumps have become non-functional. So, we are operating the other two on every alternate day for one hour. If we operate them for long, it is likely to damage the motors," said a CCL official.
To tackle the problem, residents rush to the nearby CMPDI Colony and fetch water.
Rest depend on packaged water and that too is available only at much higher rate.
"Earlier a jar of 20 litre used to cost around Rs 50, but now it has become almost double," Saurabh Mishra, a contractor who has to quench the thirst of seven family members.
Since most of the eight public taps in the colony are running dry, it has spelt doom for those who supply door-to-door water in containers.
"Earlier, I used to earn around Rs 200 daily by supplying water to many houses. My income has gone down drastically. From morning to evening, I stare at public taps to fetch water but often I have to return with empty buckets. There are dozen like me," said Dinesh who earns his livelihood by supplying water door-to-door.
The water crisis had its ripple effect on neighbouring areas like Vidyapatinagar, Dhawan Nagar and Chandni Chowk. These areas are also dependant of CCL for drinking water supply.
But, Gandhinagar is not the only locality reeling under water crisis. "Reports collected from all the 55 councillors suggest that around 151 deep boring pumps are lying defunct. We have deployed technicians to repair those. As a temporary arrangement, Ranchi Municipal Corporation has started supplying water through tankers," said mayor Asha Lakra who visited ward No. 27 on Tuesday.
