Despite being situated near the Bhakra Main Branch canal, approximately 16,000 residents across 14 wards of Jakhal town in Fatehabad district, Haryana, continue to depend on tubewells and groundwater for their drinking water needs. A long-pending project to supply clean canal water remains stalled due to the unavailability of suitable land for necessary infrastructure.
Project Stalled Due to Land Unavailability
According to the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), the project requires land for new water works and a water treatment plant to treat and supply Bhakra canal water. However, the lack of suitable government or panchayat land within or near the town has delayed the project for years. PHED SDO Dalwinder Singh stated that the department is reviewing the land requirement after a change in charge and emphasized that the biggest challenge is the non-availability of suitable land. Until land is identified, the project cannot move forward.
Summer Exacerbates Water Supply Issues
This summer has worsened the situation, with rising demand placing increased pressure on the ageing water supply system. Residents in several areas report low water pressure, while others say the duration of water supply has been reduced. The growing town has expanded with new wards and colonies, but the drinking water infrastructure has not kept pace, according to local resident Harnek Singh.
Health Concerns Over Groundwater Quality
Locals have raised concerns about groundwater quality, claiming that heavy and contaminated water is causing health problems such as stomach ailments, kidney-related diseases, and kidney stones. The reliance on tubewells has heightened these risks, as the water is not treated to the same standards as canal water would be.
Political Promises Unfulfilled
Residents allege that the issue is raised before every election, with political leaders promising to bring Bhakra canal water to Jakhal. However, they claim no progress is made once elections are over. They have warned that if work on the project does not begin soon, they will make it a major issue in the next elections.
The PHED SDO acknowledged that large water works and a treatment plant are essential for supplying Bhakra canal water to Jakhal. Until suitable land is identified, the long-awaited project remains in limbo, leaving residents dependent on increasingly strained groundwater resources.
