Eight Days Without Water: Khashpur Villagers Demand Immediate Action from Authorities

Residents of Khashpur Tea Garden in Udharbond are up in arms over the ongoing water supply crisis, expressing their frustration just a short distance from the local MLA’s residence. For the past eight days, the supply of drinking water has been completely disrupted, leaving the community in dire straits. Forced to drink river water, the villagers’ frustration has reached its peak.

The root of the problem lies in the malfunctioning motor of the water supply project, which has brought the system to a standstill. Despite repeated appeals, the Khashpur tea garden management, which is responsible for the project, has been accused of negligence and delay in fixing the issue. Local residents, including Bidyut Dutta, Nilay Das, Shivani Chakraborty, Swaraj Das, and Jatindra Tantubay, voiced their anger on Friday while standing in front of the VIP Road-adjacent to the water supply project site.

The water supply project, which was built on the tea garden’s land, is managed by the Arunabond Tea Garden authority. However, their failure to address the mechanical issues promptly has left the residents without a basic necessity. The Khashpur tea garden operates as a subsidiary of the Arunabond Tea Garden, making the ongoing water crisis even more disheartening for the affected community. Villagers reported that in the absence of a proper committee, the tea garden management oversees the project and controls water distribution at their discretion.

In their conversation with the media, the locals detailed how they have been suffering for over a week since the supply of water stopped. Additionally, they complained that even when water is supplied, it is often untreated, resulting in muddy water that is unfit for consumption. These conditions have forced the residents to organise a peaceful demonstration to demand immediate action.

The persistent water shortage has not only affected daily routines but has also raised health concerns among the residents. They stressed the urgency of the situation, pointing out that living without clean drinking water for such an extended period is both dangerous and unacceptable. The protest aims to draw the attention of the authorities to this critical issue and expedite the repair of the water supply motor.

Moreover, residents mentioned that around 300 families rely on this project for their drinking water. However, the project draws water from the adjacent Shalganga stream without proper treatment, leading to widespread waterborne illnesses among the villagers. Despite multiple complaints to the garden authorities, no action has been taken, prompting the villagers to appeal directly to the local MLA Mihirkanti Shome, whose residence is merely 100 meters from the project site, seeking his intervention to repair the faulty motor.