Assam: Deadly arsenic in Kuruwabahi’s drinking water, Villagers forced to buy portable water

A CORRESPONDENT

BOKAKHAT: In the rural areas of Bokakhat subdivision, drinking a simple glass of water is no longer safe. Villagers are now compelled to purchase large containers of water for drinking purposes. Particularly in some villages of Kuruwabahi under Bokakhat subdivision, there is a severe shortage of safe drinking water. In several villages across the greater Kuruwabahi area, the arsenic content in drinking water has risen sharply, forcing ordinary villagers to buy water daily for consumption.

In the past, only a few well-off people bought water as a precaution for health, but now, regardless of financial condition, everyone in Kuruwabahi is purchasing water. However, this too poses a problem, as there is a question of whether the purchased water is actually hygienic and germ-free.

Especially in villages such as Dhansiriporia 1 No. Chinakan, 2 No. Chinakan, Rongagara, Adarsha Gaon, etc., residents have to buy drinking water every day. A few years ago, with financial assistance from Numaligarh Refinery, Tezpur University had provided arsenic-removal filters to households in these villages. However, many of these filters have now become unusable. Notably, in later years, neither Tezpur University nor Numaligarh Refinery checked whether these filters were still functional.

On the other hand, after the recent floods, villagers in Kuruwabahi’s flood-hit areas are suffering even more when it comes to drinking water. This is because the sources of water, such as tube wells, became highly toxic after being submerged by floodwaters. Following the flood, the Public Health Engineering Department of Bokakhat subdivision merely distributed a few packets of bleaching powder and some Halogen tablets, considering its duty done. Although the department does have a water testing laboratory, its condition is such that ‘it’s better not to have it than to have it in such a useless state.’

As a result, villagers, already burdened by the cost of purchasing water every day, are now in a state described as ‘once bitten by a snake, now scared by even a puff of rice steam.’ In this matter, villagers accused Bokakhat’s MLA and Minister Atul Bora of taking no action. According to them, the Minister visits Kuruwabahi only during the Rabi harvest season for photo shoots in a few wealthy farmers’ fields, with no programmes addressing the hardships of ordinary people.

The victims also severely criticized local branches of social and national organizations in Kuruwabahi for showing negligence in bringing the matter to the attention of departmental authorities. The affected residents demanded that the concerned authorities take immediate and appropriate measures.

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