Due to the callous approach of the department concerned, residents are forced to traverse several kilometres to quench their thirst. Additionally, in case of breakdown of tube-well, shortage of water tankers has become a major cause for not quenching the thirst of the residents and those who are living in the fringe areas are among the worst sufferers in Dehradun district.
The demand of potable water has also increased manifold with the rise in the temperature in the State. Well established sources revealed that the demand of potable water in the city hovers around 190 mld (million litre per day) but in the summer, the demand of water jumps to 250-300 mld per day. Shockingly, despite several assurance given by the department concerned that no part of the Dehradun city will reel under the shortage of potable water, the reality is something very different which was claimed by the department.
Among the worst-affected colonies in terms of shortage of potable water which include Nehru Colony, Chukhuwala Mohalla, Kanwali Road, Dl Road, Arcadia Grant, Majjri Mafi, Old Dalanwala, Salawala, Mannuganj etc. Due to the callous approach of the department, the Jal Sansthan is completely relying on the private tankers as the department is having only four water tankers.
The department concerned is yet to take effective steps to keep a tab on unauthorised private tankers in the city as water tankers’ operators charge Rs 500-800 per tanker whereas the department charges only Rs 150 per water tanker.
The situation has been deteriorating with each passing day with the rise of temperature in the State. On condition of anonymity, an official told that department would take stringent action against the private tankers, who top up using Government water supply in the region.