People of Chelagang under Karbook in Tripura – over 102 km away from Agartala – were reportedly reeling under serious water crisis for the last one month. Women folk of the village with the water vessels assembled and blocked the Amarpur-Natunbazar road on Tuesday (Aug 16) in protest.
Later, Drinking and Water Supply (DWS) officials made makeshift arrangements to supply potable water in tankers and a written assurance to restoring pipeline service within a month.
According to the locals, they were facing serious water crisis as the water supply services collapsed around a month ago.
“Resentment was palpable and today, women of the villagers blocked the road demanding a permanent solution to the ongoing water crisis. Earlier, we informed the concerned authorities and communicated our plights. However, no action was taken to solve the problem”, villagers alleged and pointed fingers at the DWS for alleged negligence.
The road blockade threw vehicular movements along the road out of gear. Passenger vehicles and good carriers remained stranded on both sides of the Amrpur-Natunbazar Road.
“Keeping in mind the importance of 76th Independence day, we silently tolerated the hardship owing to water crisis. However, after the celebrations were over, we blocked the road to vent our anguish and highlight our ongoing-plights as well as demand a permanent solution to the water crisis”, an agitating woman commented.
Amidst the agitation, DWS officials reached the spot and talked to the agitators. After discussions, it was decided that for immediate solution, water would be supplied to the village through tankers until the normal pipeline services could be restored.
As the villagers kept on insisting for a permanent solution, it was decided that normalcy in pipeline water supply would be restored within a month and DWS officials gave a written assurance to this end.