Potable water woes for Guwahatians

Permit me to bring to the notice of the authorities concerned on the recurring problem of non-availability of potable waters in Guwahati in areas under the Jal Board. The Zoo Road Water Supply Scheme under erstwhile Urban Water Supply Board, being taken over by the Jal Board about a year back has become a regular cause of headache to the consumers. After taking over, the Jal Board had hiked the monthly tariff by around 200 per cent but nothing has been done towards ensuring regular supply of water to the consumers. Again they have different rates for same type of consumers having meters and no meters. Last year after a lot of public hue and cry two new pumps were installed around this time and there was some relief for the consumers. But for the last fortnight or so, the supply position is back to square again. Water is supplied every alternate days, that too, in lesser quantities, thus compelling the consumers to go for costly and poor quality of tanker supply. The reason of this sudden deterioration is also not known, as no Jal Board official is available for comments. The Guwahati Development Department is also a mute spectator.

P.K. Gupta,

Guwahati 5