Bharatpur : Chambal-Dholpur-Bharatpur drinking water project was no less than a boon for the population of about 35 lakhs of Bharatpur and Deeg districts. The government approved Rs 1300 crore for this scheme, which was started almost two decades ago. But in just 15 years of the scheme’s launch, its condition has worsened. Sometimes due to pump failure at Chambal intake well and sometimes leakage in transmission line, water supply is disrupted for 3-4 days every month. At the same time, water supply to consumers remains disrupted several times a month due to leakage in rising pipelines etc. in many areas. Due to this, lakhs of people have to face drinking water crisis. Not only this, under the scheme, it was decided to supply water to the urban areas of Bharatpur, Rupwas, Uchain, Deeg, Kumher, Nagar, Kaman and Pahari tehsils and 945 villages of these tehsils, but till now in a decade, drinking water supply has been done in only 600 villages. However, drinking water supply has not been ensured in 345 villages yet. The villages deprived of Chambal drinking water include Bharatpur and Uchhain, Rupwas, Kaman and Pahari tehsils. Let us tell you that Chambal-Dholpur-Bharatpur drinking water project is a lifeline for millions of people. But due to departmental negligence and slowness, this project seems to be failing in its objective. If improvements are not made in time, the situation may become worse. The government and the department will have to take concrete steps as soon as possible, so that the common people can get relief.
Where is the water supply department failing?
A huge intake well, 6 pumps, and transmission line were laid to bring water from Chambal river to Bharatpur and Deeg districts. Raw reserve wire tank of 220 MLD and water filter plant of 110 MLD were also installed in Bharatpur. Despite this, interruption of water supply every month raises questions on the working style of the department. Despite sufficient water being available in the reserve wire tank of 220 MLD capacity, water supply comes to a halt due to leakage or pump failure. Due to the negligence of the department, raw water is not being collected in sufficient quantity, nor is the water being filtered in sufficient quantity. It is clear from the working style of the department that the root of the problem is negligence and lack of proper monitoring. Adequate water supply is possible from the reserve wire of 220 MLD. But water supply is stopped in the name of leakage and pump failure. Crores of rupees were spent on this project, but people still have to struggle for water.
Old pump, slow discharge
The pumps installed in the initial days of Chambal project are now outdated. The ability to discharge water has decreased. 110 MLD water was to be sent to Bharatpur daily through four pumps, but now hardly 70-75 MLD water is being sent. The shocking thing is that approval of Rs 10 crore was issued to replace these pumps in 2023. Was. New pumps were to be installed by October 2023. But the department has not worked on it yet. As a result, people of Bharatpur and Deeg have to survive with less water.
345 villages have been waiting for a decade
Under the scheme, water was to be supplied to 945 villages and urban areas of Bharatpur and Deeg tehsils. For this, 112 MLD water is required daily, but till now only 600 villages apart from the cities have got the benefit of this scheme. People of the remaining 345 villages are still waiting for Chambal water. People in rural areas are forced to fetch water from many kilometers away. Even in the areas which are already connected, water supply is not becoming regular. When 345 more villages are added, instead of 70 MLD water, 112 MLD water will have to be supplied, the situation is likely to get worse.
Planning to lay another new transmission line from Chambal to Bharatpur
New pumps will be installed at the Chambal intake well by December 25, which means drinking water supply will be smooth by the end of December. Then there will be no shortage of water. As far as reserve water is concerned, this water is kept for emergencies. However, planning is going on to lay another new transmission line from Chambal to Bharatpur soon, so that if there is any leakage in one line, water supply can be possible from the other.
