A housing society near Besa-Pipla Road in Nagpur is facing an acute water crisis, with no supply for the past seven days. This marks the fourth such disruption in just two months, leaving residents frustrated and financially strained as they battle extreme summer conditions, with temperatures soaring to 44 degrees Celsius.
Residents Forced to Rely on Private Tankers
With taps running dry, families have been forced to rely on private water tankers, arranging nearly 37 to 38 tankers in under a week at a cost of Rs 1,300 to Rs 1,500 each. The mounting expenses have added to residents' distress, especially as they continue to pay regular taxes despite repeated service failures. Many households have begun rationing water, cutting down on essential usage, and adjusting daily routines to cope with the shortage. In several homes, families are crowding into single rooms to run just one cooler for limited hours to conserve water and electricity.
Pipeline Damage Blamed for Crisis
Residents attribute the recurring crisis to ongoing road construction work in the area, which they claim frequently damages underground pipelines. The absence of proper pipeline blueprints has worsened the situation, leading to accidental breakages. They allege that in several instances, damaged pipelines are temporarily covered with soil without being repaired, resulting in prolonged disruptions.
Resident Dhananjay Bhoyar said that pipeline damage in nearby localities often leads to supply being diverted, leaving their area without water for days. "We only realize the extent of the problem after making repeated calls. For the past week, we have had to arrange tankers ourselves. Despite urging everyone to conserve water, the situation has become extremely difficult. If supply is not restored soon, we will be forced to escalate the matter," he said, expressing frustration over the lack of accountability.
Officials Respond
Officials, however, claim efforts are underway to resolve the issue. Mukesh Kale, chairman of the public works department, said he personally visited the locality and remained on-site until 1 am to assess the situation. He attributed the disruption to complications in the water supply network and jurisdictional gaps between authorities.
"There is no dedicated presence of the water authority in this area, which has created coordination issues. We are now working on establishing a new connection from a larger overhead tank with higher capacity. The Nagar Panchayat will fund the project, and work is set to begin immediately," Kale said.
