Ranchi’s waterless truth is slowly sinking in. Not just rationed drinking water and bucket queues, the growing crisis triggered by shrinking reservoirs in rainless times has gripped life and livelihood like never before in recent years. 

CHHANDOSREE takes stock of services that have been badly hit in the capital city

DIRTY LINEN STAYS SO

For office babus, traditional dhobis and contemporary dry cleaners are like Man Friday. They play a crucial role in keeping formals crispy clean. But, in these dire times, most washermen are being compelled to refuse customers, except for the very loyal ones.

“I have stopped taking new orders for nearly a week now. We are facing acute water crisis and washing is a challenge, be it normal or dry,” said Laxman Yadav, owner of Snowpex Drycleaners on Harmu Road.

Parvez of Nicco Tailor and Drycleaners at Udhav Babu Lane in Tharpakhna, who has his dry cleaning unit in Hindpiri, couldn’t hide his scepticism. “There is no water to drink and you talk of washing clothes! These are difficult times for business. Unless a regular customer has some urgent need, I am not taking orders,” Parvez said.

WHEELS OF WORRY

Kundan Kumar, owner of Kundan Tyres and Car Washing Centre on East Jail Road in Tharpakhna, too complained of bad business. “Earlier, we serviced 10 to 15 four-wheelers a day. Now, the number has dropped to half a dozen. We have a well, but the water level has gone done. It means groundwater is not recharging, which is a genuine threat for us,” he said.

BUILDING HOPES CRASH

Construction projects are slo-mo. Temporary wells at various sites are drying up and most builders plan to wait till monsoon before they resume work. Home plans have also gone haywire for many.

“We had to stop construction of our house after the well dried up. Work cannot progress unless we can arrange for regular supply of water. We will have to wait till the rains in June-July,” said S. Pal whose residence is under construction at Old Commissioner’s Compound.

Mohit Dubey of Kanke Road, who was getting his house renovated, too has shelved plans. “We were going from single-storey to double-storey. Fortunately, the roof was completed before water in our well was exhausted. Brick 
work will be done later,” he said.

DEVOTION IN DILEMMA

Basanti Durga Puja is hosted with much enthusiasm for four days every year on the premises of Bangiya Sanskritik Parishad Vidyalaya in Dhurwa. This year, shortage of water is threatening to upset plans.

“We usually offer the 300-odd devotees bhog every afternoon. Today (Wednesday), we had to purchase 20 litres of water for Rs 800 just for kitchen needs. On April 15, on the occasion of Ram Navami, around 1,500 devotees will queue up. We are thinking of ways to manage. The school has only one tube well and piped supply comes every alternate day. We have been organising the puja for two decades, but this is the first time we are facing such an acute water crisis,” said Rajkumar Chakrabarty, convener.

VIP PLANTS IN PERIL

Harmu Bypass is a VIP road. The CM, his cabinet ministers and most bureaucrats take the road to reach Project Building. Hence, the road construction department diligently ensures that the myriad plants on the manicured median stay alive. But, plant management is no longer a cakewalk.

“Getting water is not easy these days. We are drawing 100 buckets from wherever we can, either Hatia Dam or the rivulet near Doranda or some other place,” said Ramshankar Yadav, a watering manager.