First the irregular water supply, then water reduced to a trickle and then water tankers — people from some parts of the city have been
sweating it out to collect every drop of water this summer.
People are using what ever available means and containers to collect water. Rakesh Boskar, resident of Rameshwari reached NMC’s Wanjari Nagar water tank on a two-wheeler with drums to fetch water; Keshav Somkuwar from Jogi Nagar slums came in an autorickshaw with drums and pots while Samadhan Meshram hired a private five-wheeler and brought six drums to fetch water.
On Friday, it got worse for residents of Hanuman Nagar zone. Thousands of citizens were put to a lot of inconvenience as the drivers of tankers supplying water proceeded on a ‘flash strike’.
Almost 18 tanker drivers supplying water to various localities of Hanuman Nagar zone resorted to daylong strike following alleged manhandling of tanker driver Pramod Mankar by corporator from Chandramani Nagar Kishor Gajbhiye.
BJP corporator Rupesh Meshram and former deputy mayor and senior BJP leader Majid Shola reached Dharampeth Water Works Department (WWD) headquarters to register their protest over the water shortage problems encountered by Nandanvan and Hasanbagh slums since past eight days. Meshram, Shola and their supporters reached the office of executive engineer Shashikant Hastak to blacken his face, sources said. Hastak, however, managed to escape the office, sources said.
“There is tremendous discontent among residents of north, east and south Nagpur facing water scarcity. Water supply to these areas is very irregular,” sources said.
Most of the wards in Hanuman Nagar zone were supplied water through tankers, especially in slums and remote areas as there is no water distribution network. Over 50,000 residents from Hanuman Nagar zone did not receive a single drop of water due to the flash strike, alleged Rameshwari corporator Sharad Bante while speaking to TOI.
A senior WWD official said, “Almost 152 water tankers were pressed into service for supplying water in slums and remote areas in the entire city. 18 tankers make 130 trips from Wanjari Nagar overhead water tank to supply water in Hanuman Nagar zone. Due to the drivers’ strike, water was not supplied and citizens were put to a big inconvenience.” We discussed the matter with the tanker operators and water supply will resume from Saturday morning as usual, he added.
Corporator from Rajendra Nagar (Nandanvan) Rupesh Meshram alleged, “Slum dwellers of Nandanvan and Hasanbagh and from other localities have not received a single drop of water for the past 8 days, neither by taps nor by tankers.”
Lamenting upon deteriorating network, senior citizen Ruplal Pohane said, “10 years ago, we had regular water and power supply. Now, we don’t have power supply for four and half hours every day and receive water on alternate days.”
Jaripatka corporator Ved Arya blamed the ruling coalition for the situation. He claimed that the problem started since April 7, 2007 due to mismanagement on part of officials and ruling party leaders. “I fail to understand that when we had regular water supply two years back, suddenly the entire network has failed leading to a catastrophe like situation. If there is water scarcity, then why does West Nagpur receive water daily while only East, North and parts of South Nagpur get alternate day water supply?”
sweating it out to collect every drop of water this summer.
People are using what ever available means and containers to collect water. Rakesh Boskar, resident of Rameshwari reached NMC’s Wanjari Nagar water tank on a two-wheeler with drums to fetch water; Keshav Somkuwar from Jogi Nagar slums came in an autorickshaw with drums and pots while Samadhan Meshram hired a private five-wheeler and brought six drums to fetch water.
On Friday, it got worse for residents of Hanuman Nagar zone. Thousands of citizens were put to a lot of inconvenience as the drivers of tankers supplying water proceeded on a ‘flash strike’.
Almost 18 tanker drivers supplying water to various localities of Hanuman Nagar zone resorted to daylong strike following alleged manhandling of tanker driver Pramod Mankar by corporator from Chandramani Nagar Kishor Gajbhiye.
BJP corporator Rupesh Meshram and former deputy mayor and senior BJP leader Majid Shola reached Dharampeth Water Works Department (WWD) headquarters to register their protest over the water shortage problems encountered by Nandanvan and Hasanbagh slums since past eight days. Meshram, Shola and their supporters reached the office of executive engineer Shashikant Hastak to blacken his face, sources said. Hastak, however, managed to escape the office, sources said.
“There is tremendous discontent among residents of north, east and south Nagpur facing water scarcity. Water supply to these areas is very irregular,” sources said.
Most of the wards in Hanuman Nagar zone were supplied water through tankers, especially in slums and remote areas as there is no water distribution network. Over 50,000 residents from Hanuman Nagar zone did not receive a single drop of water due to the flash strike, alleged Rameshwari corporator Sharad Bante while speaking to TOI.
A senior WWD official said, “Almost 152 water tankers were pressed into service for supplying water in slums and remote areas in the entire city. 18 tankers make 130 trips from Wanjari Nagar overhead water tank to supply water in Hanuman Nagar zone. Due to the drivers’ strike, water was not supplied and citizens were put to a big inconvenience.” We discussed the matter with the tanker operators and water supply will resume from Saturday morning as usual, he added.
Corporator from Rajendra Nagar (Nandanvan) Rupesh Meshram alleged, “Slum dwellers of Nandanvan and Hasanbagh and from other localities have not received a single drop of water for the past 8 days, neither by taps nor by tankers.”
Lamenting upon deteriorating network, senior citizen Ruplal Pohane said, “10 years ago, we had regular water and power supply. Now, we don’t have power supply for four and half hours every day and receive water on alternate days.”
Jaripatka corporator Ved Arya blamed the ruling coalition for the situation. He claimed that the problem started since April 7, 2007 due to mismanagement on part of officials and ruling party leaders. “I fail to understand that when we had regular water supply two years back, suddenly the entire network has failed leading to a catastrophe like situation. If there is water scarcity, then why does West Nagpur receive water daily while only East, North and parts of South Nagpur get alternate day water supply?”