Chas, the satellite city of Bokaro Steel City, recently ranked 19th position in the entire country for cleanliness and the cleanest city of Jharkhand is now facing serious crisis of potable water.
Residents of several parts from the city complained that they are getting contaminated water supply for over seven days. Supplied drinking water smells of sewage and is dark soil in colour, locals said.
“We are getting the supply of contaminated water from the tap which is coloured and smells bad since over a week,” said Vikram a resident of Chas Municipal Corporation (CMC). “We filed several complaints with the municipal office but are yet to get a response from any civic official,” he added.
‘For the past seven days, the colour of drinking water supplied in our area is yellowish with drainage like odour. Also, we get water at very low pressure,” said Chandan another resident pf Prabhat Colony Chas.
“After our repeated reminders CMC yet to act upon the complaints,” he added.
“We have made a complaint with the executive engineer. Soon issue would be short out,” said Avinash Kumar Deputy Mayor CMC.
There is leakage somewhere in supply pipeline and rain and drain water enters from there in the supply line, said JP Yadav, Executive Engineer Chas.
“We are trying our best to sort out the issue earliest but getting it difficult to identify the leak where the sewage mixed with water in the supply line,” he added.If there is leakage the corporation should thoroughly check the water pipelines in the area, said Gaghander a social worker and a resident of Tranagar. “The Swachh initiative will be successful if the civic body supplies potable drinking water and maintain hygienic conditions in the city,” he added.
Forget drinking, the water is not suitable for bathing even washing clothes, said Vijay Prasad another resident. “We are forced to buy drinking water which is being sold at Rs 30-35 per gallon. Over 9 lakh residents of Chas are battling with water crisis and are enforced to buy water paying high prices, he added.