Nal-Jal Scheme Shut Down for the Past 15 Days in Ward 13, Villagers Troubled by Pump Operator's Low-Voltage Excuse
Bhagalpur/Shahkund: A severe crisis for drinking water has erupted in Ward Number 13 of Jagaria Panchayat under the Shahkund block of Bhagalpur district, leaving residents struggling over the past 15 days. The ambitious 'Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal' (Tap Water to Every Home) scheme under Chief Minister's Seven Resolves program appears to be falling apart here. Due to the complete disruption of water supply for the past two weeks, local villagers are crying out for every single drop of water. Amidst the intense heat and humid weather, the lack of water has completely disrupted daily life, and the anger of the villagers is now gradually turning towards administrative negligence.
Why Has the Water Supply Been Shut Down for the Past 15 Days?
According to villagers, the motor and pump of the water supply scheme installed in Ward Number 13 have not pumped a single drop of water for the last 15 days. When locals tried to get to the root of the problem and contacted the pump operator, a bizarre and irresponsible response came to light. The pump operator claimed that the electrical voltage in the area remains very low, rendering him unable to run the heavy motor, which is why he has completely halted service.
However, villagers allege that the low-voltage excuse is merely a facade and a way to cover up sheer negligence. Residents state that if voltage issues genuinely existed, the electricity department or panchayat representatives should have been informed immediately, but no one paid any attention to this. Shutting off the water supply for 15 days without any alternative arrangement raises massive question marks on the functioning of the department and related personnel.
Hardships Mount for Women and Children
The shutdown of the tap-water scheme has brought the most miserable conditions for women, the elderly, and young children in households. The designated times in the morning and evening when water used to flow from the taps have completely ceased.
Compulsion to Fetch Water from Afar: To gather water for drinking and cooking, women are forced to leave their daily household chores behind and make rounds of distant handpumps or private borings.
Broken Handpumps: Villagers also expressed pain over the fact that several government handpumps installed in the area are either broken or have suffered a drop in the water table, forcing people to stand in long lines or plead with others for water.
Impact on Children's Education: Arranging water for children going to school early in the morning has become a major challenge for mothers.
Outrage Over Apathy of Representatives and Officials
Residents of Ward Number 13 in Jagaria Panchayat harbor deep resentment over the fact that despite more than a week and a half passing, neither the Panchayat Mukhia nor the Ward Member has taken note of this critical issue. Officials of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) or the Panchayati Raj Department have also turned a blind eye.
Villagers stated that they tried registering complaints locally multiple times, but each time they only received false assurances. People struggling for a basic necessity like water warn that if water supply is not restored soon, they will be forced to reach the block headquarters and stage a strong protest.
Demand for Administrative Action
Local intellectuals and aware citizens have demanded immediate intervention from the district administration and the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Shahkund. Villagers have demanded that:
The water supply pump in Ward Number 13 should be made operational immediately.
If there is a genuine voltage issue, a stabilizer or alternative power arrangement should be installed there.
Strict administrative action should be taken against the misleading pump operator and related negligent staff who are shirking their responsibilities.
Deprived of a fundamental necessity like water, the residents of Ward 13 in Jagaria Panchayat are forced to struggle every single day. It remains to be seen how quickly the administration takes concrete steps to resolve this severe water crisis following this report.
