Acute drinking water crisis hits Pailapool residents

OUR Correspondent

Silchar, Aug 18: It is a very contrasting picture when the country was celebrating its 70th Independence Day, residents of Labocpar Part I village under Pailapool post office in Lakhipur sub division of Cachar were crying for the redressal of their scarcity of safe drinking water. Water which is essential requirement for human survival is yet to reach their houses. People of the area are struggling for a drop of drinking water. It is relevant to mention that there is a PHE scheme in Pailapool jointly run by the PHE department and Pailapool Water Supply Sanitation Committee.

 Despite numerous complaints to the authorities concerned, the problem regarding the scarcity of drinking water in the village has been continuing for the last 12 months. It has been alleged by the residents of Pailapool that members of the committee have collected money for providing water connectivity to every house of the village, yet there seems no hope for them. It is quite surprising to note that common people despite all round developments taking place have to struggle for a drop of water.

 It is quite baffling that even after having the facility of water connectivity in their houses, the problem persists and needs to be sorted out at the earliest. This kind of attitude and behaviour on the part of the PHE and the Sanitation Committee notwithstanding the fact that all the households have paid all the estimated money for connection quite turally leads to resentment and dissatisfaction among them. They have footed the necessary amount of money and yet they are made to suffer immensely. It has been alleged by the residents of Pailapool that the root cause behind the scarcity of water lays elsewhere.

It has been stated that a number of families around 25 belonging to the richer strata of the society have been pumping in water through motor pumps resulting in denial of water to the poor and have-nots. Poor people are the worst hit are these unfortute people who can hardly afford to install pumping machines in their houses. The matter has been reported to Megha Das, SDO (PHE), who has promised to have a separate PHE scheme for the deprived residents.

 But, the questions that these victims of injustice are raising are what about their amount of Rs.5,000, in some cases Rs.6,000 paid by each household and how can the SDO on his own part set up a separate scheme? Finding no way out, the aggrieved residents have sent a letter to M H Barbhuiya, secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Silchar, and requested him to look into the matter. It has been stated in the letter that they are not getting supply of water despite having proper house connection facilities. It is high time that the authorities concerned should take immediate steps in order to resolve the issue.