PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Ranchi/Jamshedpur, March 5: Two starred questions of Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Roy in the Jharkhand Assembly were answered separately by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation and the Urban Development Department today.
Roy had asked the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation that most motors in the intake well, treatment plant and tanks of the ambitious Mango Drinking Water Project have been lying defunct for about four years now and that not a single new motor pump has been purchased since the start of work.
He asked the government about buying new motor pumps and reaching water in houses so as to run the Mango drinking water project with full capacity.
On this, minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation Department Yogendra Prasad replied that the department has given approval to install three new motor pump sets on March 3 (Monday). The acceptance was given on the questions asked earlier by legislator Saryu Roy in the state assembly.
Also Read- Maharashtra Assembly suspends SP MLA Abu Azmi over Aurangzeb remarks
Issues with BPL Connections and Water Tariffs
Roy’s second question to the government was that as it is not clearly defined by the families living below the poverty line (BPL), they are not getting the benefit of taking free connections.
The MLA also pointed out that the government is charging more money from consumers of above 1000 square feet area.
On this, the government replied that a committee has been formed to review the water installation fee for residential buildings and to provide a report to the department within a fortnight, also defining BPL families for this.
In light of the intention received from the committee, further action will be taken to amend the rules.
Issues of Water Supply
Notably, last month, Roy had pointed out negligence in the execution of the Mango drinking water project.
He had cautioned the executive engineer (Civil) of the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, emphasizing that any carelessness in projects providing essential public services would have serious consequences.
Expressing his dissatisfaction, the MLA stated that he had received reports of pipe leakages in certain locations and concerns that the water tank was not being filled to capacity.
He had asked the authorities to act swiftly to resolve such issues and ensure that the people of Mango receive uninterrupted drinking water supply.
