- Not getting drinking water every day in districts, crisis will increase as heat increases
- Municipal bodies have not yet received amount
- Government will have to plan to supply water on alternative days
Kanhaiya Lodhi, Bhopal
Scorching heat is slowly increasing in the state and is sure to intensify in the month of May. As the heat gets harsher, it is certain that water crisis will worsen in the cities of the state in the same proportion. The month of May has just begun and a drinking water crisis has started developing in 170 municipal bodies of the state. Water is not being supplied daily to the people of these civic bodies — the reason being that the sources from which water is supplied here have now started drying up or there is not enough water coming; in such a situation, water cuts have to be resorted to. This has become the easiest option for the officers; as a result, at a time when people need water the most, they are facing a paucity of water.
The number of urban bodies in the state is 413, out of which drinking water is being supplied daily to only 243, but the situation in the rest is becoming increasingly critical. As the heat increases in the coming days, the number of bodies providing drinking water every day will also reduce and then plans for alternative days may have to be made for water supply to some more bodies.
Situation is worst in Indore and Ujjain divisions – Indore and Ujjain divisions have the worst situation in terms of drinking water in the state. There are 55 bodies under Indore division, out of which only 17 bodies are getting water every day, while the remaining 38 are getting water supply only on alternate days. Similarly, out of 67 bodies of Ujjain division, only 18 are getting water every day.
Water is being supplied to 42 bodies here on alternative days
Bodies have not received funds. No amount has yet been allocated from the special fund for water supply arrangements to any body facing water crisis in the state. Similarly, for water transport, the civic bodies have not yet sent the proposal to the Relief Commissioner, hence there is no question of getting additional funds for water transport.
These bodies are getting drinking water after a gap of two days
Banda, Shahpur, Patharia, Sehore, Jawar, Biaora, Dongarparasia, Shivpuri, Pankhedi Kalapipal, Shujalpur- Piplya Mandi, Bhainsadamandi, Neemuch, Kukadeshwar.
Latest status of drinking water supply in the state
Division Body Daily supply
Sagar 58 30 28
Rewa, Shahdol 54 49 05
Bhopal, Narmadapuram 64 38 26
Jabalpur 56 49 07
Gwalior, Chambal 59 42 17
Indore 55 17 38
Ujjain 67 18 49
Water is available in 14 bodies after two days
In the state, water is being supplied to 155 bodies after a day, while there are 14 bodies where water is being supplied after a gap of two days, if not after a day. People of these civic bodies even have to do water banking. If a family needs water and then borrows water from a neighbor, then it has to return the same amount of water in the next term. Similarly, in Tonkhurd, a civic body in the state, water is available only after 3 days. This is the only civic body in the state so far, where water is available after such a long period of time.
