Hailakandi Women Stage Highway Blockade Over Acute Water Crisis Despite Jal Jeevan Mission Taps
In a powerful display of frustration, hundreds of women from the greater Lalpani–Niskar belt in Hailakandi district, Assam, took to the streets on Tuesday, blockading National Highway-6 with empty pitchers and resounding chants of "We want water." The protest highlighted an acute drinking water crisis plaguing the area, despite households having functional tap connections installed under the Central government's flagship Jal Jeevan Mission.
Protest Erupts Over Suspended Water Supply
The agitation commenced in the early hours, as residents from villages including Lalpani, Gramthan, Bilpar, and Niskar assembled on the busy inter-state highway. They alleged that piped water supply has been completely suspended for several weeks, leaving them in dire straits. The women sat directly on the road, causing massive traffic snarls along the crucial corridor, disrupting movement and drawing attention to their plight.
One protester voiced the collective anguish, stating, "How long can we survive without water? We have connections, but the taps run dry." Villagers explained that while pipelines were laid and household connections provided as part of the Jal Jeevan Mission, regular water supply has not been maintained, rendering the infrastructure ineffective.
Failed Appeals to Authorities
Residents reported that repeated memoranda submitted to officials of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department, engineers, and local representatives failed to yield any tangible results. The lack of response from authorities exacerbated the crisis, forcing the community to resort to drastic measures to voice their demands for immediate action.
Blockade Lifted After Official Assurance
The protest was eventually lifted after Katlicherra circle officer M Das intervened, assuring the agitators that electricity supply to the water project would be restored at the earliest to resolve the supply crisis. This assurance provided a temporary respite, but the underlying issues of maintenance and accountability under the Jal Jeevan Mission remain unaddressed, raising concerns about sustainable water access in the region.
