Jamshedpur: The Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Hospital (MGMMCH) is facing a severe water shortage, prompting East Singhbhum Deputy Commissioner Rajiv Ranjan to intervene. On Monday, he directed the Mango Municipal Corporation (MMC) to immediately increase the daily supply of water tankers from 8 to 15. Additionally, the DC instructed MMC in-charge Deputy Municipal Commissioner Krishna Kumar to ensure that the private agency responsible for the hospital’s dedicated pipeline project completes the work by June 15.
Impact of water crisis on hospital operations
The ongoing water crisis has created significant difficulties for patients and their attendants, and has forced the hospital to postpone numerous surgeries. According to sources, over 30 critical operations were either cancelled or deferred in the last four months due to water constraints. Daily cleaning routines have also been disrupted. Outpatient department (OPD) visitors have had to carry their own water bottles, while admitted patients frequently arrange water from outside sources.
Details of the pipeline project
The Rs 8.69-crore project involves laying a 3.5 km dedicated pipeline from Sankosai in Mango to the MGMMCH campus in Dimna. Once operational, the system will pump 3 million litres of water per day (MLD) directly from the Subernarekha River to the hospital. Although construction began in January and was initially scheduled for completion in April, slow execution may push the deadline to the end of June or early July. MGMMCH Principal Dr. Sanjay Kumar stated, “Finding no response to my repeated requests to speed up construction, I wrote to the DC twice to intervene in the matter.”
Following the DC’s intervention, hospital staff expressed optimism that the situation is expected to improve soon. The 750-bed hospital has faced severe water shortage since its inauguration in June 2025. Currently, the facility receives only about 2 MLD of water from its seven borewells, supplemented by 8 water tankers provided daily by MMC. However, the hospital requires more than 3 MLD daily to meet its clinical needs, including surgeries, as well as for drinking, cleaning, and sanitation.
About the Author: B Sridhar, based in Jamshedpur, covers the entire Kolhan region including East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, and Seraikela-Kharsawan, reporting on topics such as left wing extremism, city life, urban policies, and other wide-ranging issues.
