Jaipur: A dirty pond feeds this village’s hope

People living in the tribal area of Shahabad, Baran are facing severe drinking water crisis. Residents of Kaglavar village of Gadreta Gram Panchayat do not have any other option other than going to a nearby pond, one kilometer away, to get their daily dose of drinking water. But the water in the pond is dirty. Villagers fear it is contaminated and, therefore, not fit for consumption. 

A dozen Kaglavar residents including Sanya Saharia, Prithvi Saharia, Madan Saharia, Sundar Lal, Santosh Saharia informed that the people of Kaglavar village have to go to Khatka village for drinking water as there is no water resource present in their village. They added that they have no other option than drinking contaminated water from the pond at Khatka village.

There is a tube-well in their village, but it is not functional since last two months The water scarcity and consumption of contaminated water is resulting in spreading of diseases among the village population. 

However, to some respite, a water tanker came to the village for the second time in the last two months, on Thursday. Gram Panchayat, Development Officer, Subdivision Officer and the officials of the water resources department have appealed for drinking water arrangements many a times, but no one has paid any heed to them. 

Gram Panchayat Gadreta Sarpanch Meenakshi Saharia said that they have requested the department to install tankers several times but to no avail. The Panchayat will work at its level and make arrangements for drinking water in Kaglavar village.

Assistant Engineer with the department in Shahabad Surendra Bairwa said that 79 water tankers are operational in Shahabad area and drinking water is being supplied to 31 villages.