In the remote Katarai Para, situated in East Gandachara ADC Village in Tripura, the struggle for clean water continues unabated, even after 77 years of country’s independence.
This isolated hamlet, home to around 30 Indigenous families, is a mere 6 kilometers away from the Gandachara subdivisional headquarters.
However, the villagers are compelled to depend on the polluted waters of the Ulta Chhara, a rivulet in close proximity to their dwellings, for their drinking water needs.
The situation worsens during the monsoon season when the rivulet’s water turns turbid. With no alternatives available, the villagers are forced to consume this contaminated water.
This has led to the widespread outbreak of diarrhea and other waterborne diseases, affecting individuals across all age groups, including children and the elderly. Tragically, these illnesses have also resulted in several deaths in the past.
Despite Katarai Para’s close proximity to the subdivisional headquarters, the Tripura Tribal Area Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) and the state administration have consistently failed to provide the villagers with access to clean drinking water over the years.
The lack of proper road connectivity further compounds their difficulties. The villagers are left with no choice but to traverse a rugged, hilly terrain on foot, as no vehicles are willing to navigate the challenging terrain to reach them.
This lack of transportation infrastructure makes it exceedingly difficult to transport sick patients to the hospital in a timely manner.
“Whether it rainy season or dry season, we continue to suffer. Impure water is causing health hazard especially children often suffer from water borne diseases”, commented a resident.
He also added, taking an ill person or pregnant woman to health centre is a big challenge owing poor road connectivity.
(Tripura, Tripura News)
