Residents of Mango faced severe inconvenience on Sunday morning as their drinking water supply was interrupted, just ahead of major festivals like Diwali. Outraged by the situation, Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Roy made an on-site inspection of the Mango Water Supply Project’s intake well. He also visited the water tank at Prithvi Park and directed his team to the water treatment plant, which serves as the distribution point for various storage tanks.
Mr. Roy’s assessment led him to conclude that the water outage was a direct consequence of the negligence exhibited by both the officials of the drinking water supply project and the contractor responsible for its upkeep and operation. He has pledged to file a charge sheet against the Executive Engineer of the water supply department after the holidays, demanding strict action for failing to ensure consistent service. Furthermore, he intends to recommend the blacklisting of the contractor associated with the Mango Water Supply Project.
Upon entering the intake well, Mr. Roy observed a substantial accumulation of silt, suggesting a prolonged period without essential cleaning. He promptly issued a directive to the Deputy Municipal Commissioner of Mango Nagar Nigam to commence the cleaning process. Once the silt was removed, the water flow was restored. At the Prithvi Park water tank, employees reported receiving water from the treatment plant only intermittently, citing that the contractor supplies water to this specific tank merely two to three times weekly. This situation highlights a significant lapse in supervision by the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department.
An inspection of the water treatment plant revealed unequal distribution of water by the contractor’s employees. Certain areas were receiving an disproportionate amount of water, while others, which critically needed it during festivals, faced cutbacks. The contractor, when questioned about this inequity, stated that it was a long-standing practice dictated by ‘higher authorities.’ However, the Executive Engineer of the drinking water supply department refuted these claims, stating no such orders were in place. This discrepancy suggests a possible collusion between the contractor and departmental officials causing hardship to the public during festive times. Mr. Roy has formally requested the Deputy Municipal Commissioner to investigate these alleged malpractices and take appropriate punitive measures against those found guilty.