The people affected by the prevalent water crisis in the capital thronged the CM Secretariat on Wednesday where Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Amar Kumar Bauri was attending to public grievances during the weekly CM Janta Darbar.
A delegation representing residents of ward no. 37 of the State capital came to the minister seeking adequate water supply in times of grave water scarcity coupled with unchecked wastage and wrongful use of water. “The ward does not have even a single handpump installed by Ranchi Municipal Corporation and the water tankers are irregular and insufficient. The borings have dried up with receding groundwater levels,” said Manikant Jha, a resident.
“Neither elected representatives nor Government officials are paying attention to their problems,” he added, “We met Assistant Municipal Commissioner too, but his response to the issue was downright negligent. So, while litres of water are wasted due to leakages in pipeline, not a drop is reaching to those who need it,” said Jha.
In response to their demands, Bauri stated, “Several measures have been taken to resolve the emergency pertaining to water supply. The Government is trying to provide water to the people through steps like water tankers and such.”
Bauri even found himself saving an estranged married couple from breakup during the Janta Darbar. One Guriya Devi came to the public court, complaining that her husband Nirmal Kumar is forcing her to opt for legal separation following a history of abuse and dowry demands. On the other hand, Nirmal accused his wife of mental harassment and false allegations.
Nirmal and Guriya, belonging to different castes, entered into wedlock in 2011 against their families’ wishes. They have two daughters, two-year old Anushka and three-month old Aayushi,
“My husband wanted a boy instead of our two daughters. I have even been subjected to three abortions before for this. When expecting my second daughter, I came back to my mother’s home in Karamtoli. Since then, my husband has been threatening me to divorce him,” Guriya said.
Meeting her, Bauri called for Nirmal who arrived some time later at the Janta Darbar. Both of them then collectively presented their versions of the episode before the Minister.
“She has been harassing me and my family for no reason. The case of abuse for dowry has been wrongly filed against me, which raised another chain of problems for me,” said Nirmal, stating initially that he will take custody for both his daughters for their better future but will not accept his wife. Bauri strongly advised them to let forget their differences and try to compromise for the sake of their children. “Accept your daughters and make a brighter future for them.
But you cannot disregard your wife in this,” he told Nirmal. Try to overlook each other’s minor faults to make your relationship work, he told the couple playing the part of a wise mediator for them.