Even though the government spends a huge amount of money in the name of Jaljeevan scheme, the people of Chandrapur area of Guwahati city are desperate for a bottle of clean drinking water. Chandrapur Regional Student Association and locals staged a protest at the Chandrapur Development Zone Office on Tuesday against the complete stoppage of drinking water supply in the area for the past one month. Protesters carried empty jugs, buckets and anti-government banners and posters, alleging that the government’s ambitious slogan of ‘Ghar Ghale Jal, Ghar Ghale Jal’ has proved futile. The protest was held after the Rs 350 crore water supply project failed to serve the people.
The protesters sent a memorandum to Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sharma. The union leadership demanded the government and departmental authorities to regularize drinking water supply as soon as possible. According to local residents, due to severe water shortage, they are currently forced to buy 2,000 liters of water for Rs 1,000, which has created a deep financial crisis in the daily life of common people. The agitators warned that the government will face more violent protests in the coming days if this problem is not resolved quickly.
The project was started in 2014-15 at Tatimara in Chandrapur and partially opened to public to provide 24 hours clean drinking water to people of 42 villages under Chandrapur, Paschim Mayang, Panikhiti and Amching Gaon Panchayats under Chandrapur Development Zone. The project was supposed to be completed in 2023-24 but remains unfinished 11 years later. Even till date ten villages have not been able to secure water supply through the project and the people who used to get water supply are now completely irregular.
As the drinking water crisis in Chandrapur has not changed in the current situation, the residents are waiting for a permanent solution. Although it is not yet clear what immediate action the administration will take in this regard, conscious circles have expressed deep concern over the Jaljivan Mission’s failure to meet basic needs like drinking water.