People bracing up for drinking water crisis

30 March 2012

biswabrata goswami
TAMLUK, 30 MARCH: With temperature soaring each passing day, an acute drinking water crisis is looming large in rural areas of East Midnapore district. Thousands of people across the district are facing a shortage of drinking water as most of the water supply schemes is yet to be implemented due to financial crisis.
Around 5,000 tube-wells spread across 25 blocks of the district have gone dry as the groundwater levels have receded. The water that can be drawn from the remaining 4,000-odd tube-wells is insufficient, local residents said.
Places like Chandipur, Nandigram and Sutahata have been witnessing frequent altercations and even fisticuffs between villagers queuing up for water from private sources like tube-wells and submersible pumps.
Meanwhile, indiscriminate pumping of water by various means has taken a toll on the groundwater level in the coastal areas of the district. The situation in blocks like Moyna, Patashpur-I and II, Bhagawanpur-I and II, Khejuri, Contai, Chandipur, Nandigram-I and II, Tamluk, Haldia, Panskura and Kolaghat is alarming since lakhs of farmers in these blocks, cut off from surface water sources, are relying heavily on groundwater for irrigation. As growers drilled more ~ and deeper ~ wells without seeking permission from the administration, experts say there is a danger that more water will be drawn from aquifers. Groundwater pumping to irrigate crops is a normal practice, but in dry months without supplementation of surface water supplies, it is a must.
Mr Mamud Hossain, saha-sabhadhipati of zilla-parishad said: “Some blocks are facing an acute drinking water shortage because we are unable to install new tube-wells at all places. We have sought Rs 10 crore from the state public health engineering department. If the minister sanctions the fund, we can combat the situation during the summer.”
Mr Hossain said 15 water supply schemes at various blocks  have been put on hold as power connection has not yet been established in the project areas.
District magistrate Parvez Ahmed Siddiqui said: “We have taken measures to contain the situation by implementing schemes under the Sajaldhara and other PHE projects across the district.”