24-05-2025
Hand pumps defunct, locals drink dirty water from river pit
Chatra: Residents of Harijan Tola in Katia village in Lawalong block are forced to drink contaminated water from a 'Chuaan' (pit) of a river as hand pumps in the vicinity remain dysfunctional.
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With groundwater tables having depleted amid rising temperatures during summer, the search for drinking water among the residents has become frantic.
Contacted, Chatra deputy commissioner Ramesh Gholap said all BDOs have been asked to take up the repair of the hand pumps in rural and remote areas immediately. "To address such problems, a toll-free number will soon be circulated so that villagers can lodge their complaints related to water problems," he added.
Parmeshwar Bhuiyan, a resident of the village, said his co-villagers have to walk for a kilometre to get to the pit of Katia, a local rainfed river which dries up during summer. Besides fetching water for drinking, cooking and washing utensils, the womenfolk face difficulties in bathing and washing. "For years now, the pit has been our only source of water," he rued.
Basanti Devi, a woman from the village, said there was a functional hand pump in the village.
"A motor was installed to it under the Nal Jal Yojana last year without considering the actual level of the underground water. This hand pump ran out of order. Due to this, neither water is available from the Jal Minar (overhead tank), nor from the hand pump as the groundwater table has depleted," she said.
Meena Devi, another resident of the village, said, "We did not get a drop of water from the overhead tank. Dirty water from the pit is our only source despite the risk of various illnesses.
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With the water level in the pit receding fast, we have to fetch water very early in the morning."
The mukhiya of Katia panchayat, Misi Devi, said she has informed the drinking water and sanitation department to ensure the repair of the hand pump in the area at the earliest. The SDO of the drinking water and sanitation department, Faisal Ansari, said he received information about the village and that the water tower would be repaired soon.
