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| A queue of containers at Harharguttu in Bagbera on Monday. Picture by Bhola Prasad |
Rajesh Kumar Mishra (36), a primary schoolteacher and resident of Jagdishpur Road in Harharguttu, Bagbera, sent his family off to his ancestral home in Sitamarhi, Bihar, on Sunday. His parents, wife and two daughters will be back when monsoon comes, Mishra said.
Bibhash Mishra (40), who owns a home on Kali Mandir Road, Harharguttu, has rented one for Rs 2,000 in Bhatiya Basti, Kadma, 8km away, for his 12-member family.
Summer water scarcity is forcing an exodus of people from parched neighbourhoods in and around Jamshedpur.
These include nearly 1.5 lakh residents of Ghaghidih, Harharguttu, Kitadih, Karandih and Parsudih areas, all located on the southern fringes of the city.
All these areas are braving one of the worst water crises since 2010.
About a quarter of residents of Harharguttu, a predominantly residential area, have locked their houses and moved to areas in Jamshedpur with piped water supply or to other cities in the state or Bihar.
The water crisis is aggravated by depleting groundwater level, which has left most tube wells dysfunctional. According to Jamshedpur circle drinking water and sanitation department (DD&SD) records, groundwater table, which was 40-50ft below the surface in 2005-06, has now dropped to 120-150ft in the city and its adjoining areas.
The areas serviced by Jharkhand State Electricity Board (JSEB), do not enjoy more than eight to nine hours of power supply during summer. This erratic supply has also crippled homes with deep boring facilities.
“Most tube wells installed in the areas are not supplying water. At my house, we’ve drilled to a depth of more than 400 feet, but the system is lying useless due to irregular power supply. I had no option but to send my family away to our native place at Sitamarhi,” rued Rajesh.
Utilities provider Jusco, Jugsalai municipality and a few social welfare outfits are sending in water tankers. However, alternative supply is proving inadequate for the large number of people inhabiting the areas.
“I do not want my family to line up in the queue for water. There is a mad rush and it is not safe for women to fetch water from the tankers. I was compelled to take a house on rent till monsoon sets in,” said Bibhash, who now in Kadma.
Rakesh Jha (36), a lawyer in the Jamshedpur civil court and a Kitadih resident now renting a home in Jugsalai for water, agreed that tanker supply was insufficient.
Subodh Jha, convener of the Sampurna Ghaghidih Vikas Samiti, said people were forced to shift marriage venues due to crisis. “Several people from these areas are hosting wedding ceremonies in Bistupur and Jugsalai (nearly five to six km away) to avoid water problem,” he said.