Residents of Chandabila village in Lalgadh, Jhargram, have been struggling for over a year to access drinking water after both submersible pumps in their village broke down. To meet their daily water needs, villagers now walk nearly two kilometres to neighbouring villages, carrying pots and buckets under the scorching sun.
The pumps were originally installed eight years ago when central forces were deployed in the area to curb forest bandit activity. One pump was set up under the Panchayat Samiti’s initiative, and another was built through the CRPF women’s battalion’s civil action programme near the village Shiva temple. Both supplied water to tanks for the 115 families living in Chandabila.
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Residents say the pumps had broken down twice earlier but were repaired with community funds. For several years, this system worked well, freeing villagers from water scarcity even in summer. But now, with both pumps defunct, the situation has worsened. Dug wells in the village, left unused for years, are filled with foul-smelling water unfit for drinking or household chores.
“We have to carry water from Koddanga, nearly two kilometres away,” says Piyali Das, a local resident. Another villager, Shyamapad Ahir, adds, “We submitted a written complaint to the BDO in July for repairs or new installations, but nothing has changed.”
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Although a submersible pump exists in the tribal area of the village, residents claim it rarely functions. Lalgadh BDO Anal Sarkar stated, “After receiving the complaint in July, the problem was resolved through the PHE. I’m not aware of the current status, but it will be looked into and resolved after inquiry.”
