Hubballi Residents Endure Years Without Piped Drinking Water Supply
Residents of Jagadish Nagar and Ram Nagar colonies in Hubballi have been grappling with a severe drinking water crisis for years, as they continue to be deprived of piped water supply despite a pipeline passing near their areas. This persistent issue has left approximately 1,800 families reliant on alternative sources, highlighting a significant infrastructure gap in the region.
Dependence on Borewells and Water Units
The affected areas, located near the Airport and Tarihal under Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) Ward No 31, include 1,042 houses built under the Ashraya scheme in Ram Nagar and 600 houses in Jagadish Nagar. These residents depend heavily on tankers or borewells for their daily water needs, raising questions about why they are excluded from the piped water network that serves most other wards.
Drinking water is lifted from Neerasagar and supplied to around 15 HDMC wards, but Jagadish Nagar and Ram Nagar remain unconnected. According to a source in the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC), 22 million litres of drinking water per day from Neerasagar are distributed to 22 wards, yet these colonies are left out.
Residents Voice Their Struggles and Financial Burden
Basavaraj Tokalakatti, a resident of Ram Nagar, shared that they have been living in the locality for 25 years without receiving a single drop of drinking water from local authorities. "We depend on borewells or water dispensing units, which cost Rs 30 for 20 litres of water. This is a huge burden on poor people," he said. Around 4,000 family members in these areas suffer due to the lack of drinking water, and despite repeated appeals to authorities, their pleas have gone unanswered.
Tokalakatti emphasized that every ward receives drinking water except these areas, urging authorities to install a 24/7 drinking water pipeline and supply water promptly to alleviate their hardships.
Authorities Respond with Plans and Protests
Shankarappa Harijan, HDMC Ward No 31 corporator, acknowledged the challenges faced by residents in obtaining drinking water. He noted that the pipeline laid to supply nearby areas is very close to their ward, yet residents struggle for access. Harijan has urged HDMC and KUIDFC to install a pipeline to these wards and supply water by March 31, warning that a decision will be taken to organize a protest if the deadline is not met.
Umesh KM, assistant engineer at KUIDFC, provided insight into the ongoing efforts, stating that these areas are included in Phase 2 work. Phase 1 work on the installation of the pipeline and other related drinking water projects is still ongoing. In the interim, authorities have been supplying drinking water through tankers to mitigate the crisis.
The situation underscores a critical need for accelerated infrastructure development to ensure equitable water distribution in Hubballi, as residents continue to face daily inconveniences and financial strains due to the lack of a reliable water supply.
