BJP activists and local residents on Friday ransacked the water treatment and filtration plant of the Mango water supply project to protest against discontinuation of water supply in the densely populated Mango area.
According to information, about 25 activists entered the Mango water supply treatment and filtration plant at Jawaharnagar area in Mango and protested against Tata Steel subsidiary, Jusco, the executing agency of the water project.
The activists entered into hot talk with the officials. The activists then damaged three computers, two tables and four chairs.
“It was the local residents who raised voice against the discontinuation of the water supply. We were here to lodge our complaint but no one paid heed to us,” said a resident.
Another BJP leader and a resident of Azadnagar in Mango, Aftab Ahmed Siddiqui said that they had been receiving water for barely 15-20 minutes that too irregularly.
“When we asked for reasons for irregular supply of water the officials tried to move away from replying us and instead asked us to seek information from Mango Notified Area Committee (MNAC) and district drinking water and sanitation department officials. This led to the protest and moreover, due to summer heat people are reeling,” said Siddiqui.
BJP leader Vikash Singh said that it was only after intervention of local (Jamshedpur West) MlA and state food and civil supplies minister, Saryu Roy and his assurance that they vacated the premises.
The Mango project — aiming to supply 48 million litres per day — started in 2005 as a public-private partnership between state drinking water and sanitation department and Tata Steel subsidiary Jusco. At present, against a demand for over six million litres of water a day, three lakh Mango residents receive less than a third, that is, less than two million litres.
Meanwhile a Jusco official said that state minister Saryu Roy spoke to their MD on this regard but refused to accept that water supply was disconnected for nearly three days in the area.
Incidentally, the State Government had cleared Rs64.18 crore for the project and this amount had already been received by Jusco. But as per agreement Jusco would have to operate and maintain the water supply project for six months. The outstanding dues was for the period of operation and maintenance.
Jusco official also threatened to lodge named FIR against those involved in ransacking at the water treatment plant in Mango soon.
The water shortage problem is so severe that if temperature soars further several areas might not receive water at all.
The impact of summer has hit early this year. The ground water level at various places has gone down considerably due to the mushrooming high-rises.
Moreover due to the rising temperature the water level of two important rivers Swarnarekha and Kharkai has decreased substantially.