Ranchi: Harmu residents will have to wait for a fortnight more before Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) is able to use Jharkhand State Housing Board-owned borings to supply water.

The decision that was taken on Wednesday as a stopgap measure will take at least a fortnight to implemet as the boring pumps have to be repaired, an official said.

"The state housing board has seven borings to cater to 700 houses in Harmu Housing Colony under Ward 26. Around 15 years back a borehole was dug and water was supplied to the houses. After functioning hardly for seven years, six of the seven motors became defunct. It is good that RMC has decided to use the borings once again but first they need to be properly repaired," said the board official.

Housing board estate officer Neelmani Tirkey said they were yet to receive a letter in this regard. "To use the borings of the housing board, RMC has to obtain an NOC (no-objection certificate) from the board.We have not received any official information so far," added Tirkey.

RMC municipal commissioner Shantanu Agrahari said he would discuss the matter with the housing board within a week. "If we get a nod from the board then we will repair all the pumps. The local councillor will further ensure the pumps are properly maintained with the help of residents," he added.

Contacted local councillor Arun Kumar Jha, he said he would make all efforts to fix a meeting between board and RMC officials. "The initiative will benefit over 3,000 residents of Ward 26," he added.

The seven boreholes of state housing board are located in front of Home Guard Office, behind BJP state headquarters, near the residence of retired IAS officer Baidehi Sharan Mishra, near HI-type quarter, near Symphony Apartment, in front of power substation and near Sahajanand Chowk. Except the one near HI-type quarter, none of the borings has been used.

Majority of the over 20,000 residents in Harmu are dependent on their own boring or mini HYDT dug by the civic body.

"Many of these private borings do not work properly due to depletion in water levels and wayward power supply among other issues. As a result there are erratic water supply and many residents are compelled to purchase water. Even though RMC of late is supplying water through tankers in some areas, but the amount is not enough to meet the demands of residents especially during summers," said Prabhakar, a local resident.