Nagpur to face another 24-hour water shutdown on Tuesday, citizens object to conservation advice
Supply will be shut for 24 hours on Tuesday to repair a Pench-4 pipeline leak near Mankapur Chowk, and residents question being asked to save water.
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Water supply in several parts of Nagpur is irregular and inadequate. Residents have to wander from place to place for drinking water. There is no assurance that water will come from the taps, and at the same time the Nagpur Municipal Corporation and OCW are appealing to people to use water sparingly.
This has angered citizens. They are asking how far it is justified for the agencies responsible for keeping the supply smooth to advise ordinary people to economise, instead of finding a lasting remedy to the repeated problems of leakages, repairs and shutdowns.
Water supply will once again be shut for 24 hours on Tuesday to fix a leak in the Pench-4 water main near Mankapur Chowk. This will add to people's hardship.
Residents are repeatedly paying the price for the flaws in the city's water supply system. At times a pipeline leaks, at times a technical fault develops, and at other times supply is stopped in the name of maintenance and repair. These works are necessary, but planning them properly is the responsibility of the corporation and OCW.
Each time a shutdown is announced, people are told to store water and use it sparingly. But the question being raised is what use such advice is when many areas are not getting their full water even otherwise. People should get regular and adequate water, but instead they are the ones who have to bear the inconvenience again and again. Instead of makeshift repairs, the shortcomings in the system need to be removed and permanent arrangements made.
Looking ahead to summer, demand for water will rise and pressure on water sources will also increase. If repairs of water mains continue at the same time, Nagpur residents may have to go through a major water crisis again. The corporation and OCW will now have to go beyond merely issuing shutdown notices and conservation advice, and focus on removing the flaws in the supply system for good.
It is not right to keep troubling people repeatedly over a basic need like water. Citizens expect only that supply should first be made smooth and then lessons in economy given.
If this water crisis is not ended soon, the anger seen in every household could erupt, and the possibility of people taking to the streets cannot be ruled out. It is time for the corporation and OCW to take this seriously.
