Water Resources, Drinking Water and Sanitation Minister Ramchandra Sahis held a Janata Darbar in the AJSU Party’s party office here on Tuesday. The meeting, which lasted for three hours, saw people from across the State apprising the minister with their problems.
Water-related issues were of primary concern at the meeting. People requested the Minister to ensure drinking water for everyone, install check-dams and hand-pumps, ensure deep boring and irrigation systems, repair existing pipelines and build new ones. Permanent appointment of daily wage workers was also demanded by people.
Parasnath Sinha, a resident of Harmu Housing Colony complained to the Minister about water connection in his house. “I have not received even a drop of water in the last 10 years despite having a water connection, and have been unfairly billed Rs. 30,673 for the same,” he told at the meeting.
Deepak Mahato from Jamtara brought up the drinking water crisis faced by the people of his village. “Almost a hundred homes in my village are dependent on one hand-pump for water. All other pumps are defunct. I request the minister to connect the village with the nearby river through a pipe,” he said.
Sashikant Pramanik from Bundu and Kedarnath Lal Das from B.I.T. Mesra complained about unemployment and requested the minister for permanent appointments. Phool Kumari Devi, Jila Parishad member, Namkom, requested to build check-dams in the area. Many people from varied places like Chatra and Balumath urged the Minister to save the depleting ponds in their areas.
Sahis assured the people that all problems will be solved in due course. “Concerned departments have been notified on the issues, and we will follow up on all the issues in the Janata Darbar next Monday,” he said.
Talking about the water crisis that is plaguing the country, including many parts of the State, Sahis said that both government and the people will have to come together to fight the crisis. “Water cannot be created; it can only be saved. Now that monsoon has arrived, rainwater harvesting is essential and everyone should do it. The depleting groundwater is not getting recharged. The government is very serious about the issue. We will try our best to provide drinking water to everyone, but it is also the responsibility of the people to support the government’s plans and participate with full effort,” he said.