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| Picture by Vishvendu Jaipuriar |
The lifeline of 350,000-odd residents of Hazaribagh town is at stake.
Built over 100 acres in 1954, the Charwa reservoir in Katkamsandi, 5km from town, is today a 30acre excuse of its original self in the absence of mandatory dredging. The problem has only been compounded by poor rainfall for two consecutive years, enormous population pressure — 30,000 to 3.5 lakh in over five decades — and an indifferent civic administration that has allegedly made perfunctory efforts.
According to statistics available with the drinking water and sanitation department’s (DWSD) district wing, the level of water in the reservoir is receding by nearly an inch everyday, forcing a supply slash from 24 lakh gallons per day to barely 10 lakh gallons on alternate days. At this rate, the water supply is expected to last till December 15, after which residents will have to fend for themselves.
“The level of water in Charwa touched an all-time low of 13.8ft today. Once it reaches 10ft, which is the dead level, we have to stop supply altogether,” junior engineer of the department Vijendra Kumar said. According to sources, there are 500 hand pumps in the town, but just 250 are operational. These are the only hope once supply from Charwa snaps.
DWSD executive engineer Kishore Kumar Verma said a Rs 4.5-crore desiltation proposal had been sent to their headquarters in Ranchi. Deputy commissioner Ravindra Kumar Agarwal added that a Rs 1.91-crore plan to install additional hand pumps to tide over the crisis was pending with the state urban development department. But former RJD state president Gautam Sagar Rana insists that the civic administration is not taking the issue seriously.
As the countdown to D-Day begins and the blame game intensifies, VISHVENDU JAIPURIAR dissects problems plaguing Charwa and those who depend on it for day-to-day needs
PAST PERFECT
Charwa dam built over 100 acres at Katkamsandi in 1954. Single water tower erected to cater to a population of 30,000
PRESENT TENSE
Eight water towers supply to 3.5 lakh. Reservoir area reduced to 30 acres in the absence of adequate rainfall for two years and no desiltation in decades
CURRENT WATER LEVEL: 13.8ft
DEAD LEVEL (when supply will be stopped): 10ft
DEADLINE: December 15
WATER WOES
● Daily water requirement: 24 lakh gallons
● Supply on alternate days: 9-10 lakh gallons
● Individual supply earlier: 130 litres daily
● Individual supply now: 30 litres (alternate days)
AFFECTED
69,000 households in Hazaribagh town
BACKUP PLAN
● 500 hand pumps in town of which only 250 are functional. Proposal for more hand pumps at a cost of Rs 1.91 crore, which is yet to be approved
● Bid to dig borewells near the eight towers
● Rs 4.5crore desiltation plan pending at DWSD headquarters, Ranchi
Voice box
“The drinking water and sanitation department started alternate day supply from November 22. My husband has to go to sadar hospital premises to fetch water from hand pump,”
- Julie Devi, an employee of Central Coalfields Limited
“There are no hand pumps near my house. I have no choice, but to buy water for Rs 12-15 a bucket,”
Ram Lakhan Prasad of Adarsh Colony
“The administration has always been negligent despite warnings on Charwa’s receding water level. It should call a public meeting to discuss the issue with residents and invite suggestions to overcome the crisis,”
Gautam Sagar Rana, former RJD state president
AUTHORITYSPEAK
Engineer-in-chief, drinking water and sanitation department, Sajjad Hasan said the state water resources department had been asked to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for starting desiltation. “Once the DPR is ready, we will involve an agency to work on the dam.”
