Yavatmal faces water crisis this summer too

Yavatmal: Like last year, Yavatmal city is all set to face an acute drinking water problem in the coming summer too as there is no sign of the Bembla water supply scheme being commissioned.
District guardian minister Madan Yerawar had declared that the Bembla water project would be commissioned by last April and water would reach the city by May 10. Later, citing technical issues, he had said that the water would reach the city by May 31 at the most. However, going by the current pace of works, no progress has been made.

The Central government had sanctioned Rs302 crore for Amrut drinking water scheme under which the Bembla water supply scheme was taken up. Funds have been utilized for laying pipelines and the project will face fund crunch in the days to come. The pipeline laid for pumping of water from Bembla river dam had burst twice due to substandard quality.

Initially, the city was supplied drinking water from the Nilona tank which was commissioned in the early 70s. Later, Chapdoha dam was constructed. Taking into consideration the scarcity faced by the growing city, entire water from Chapdoha has been reserved for supplementing the Nilona tank.

When the supply proved to be inadequate, water from Goki project was brought to the reservoir in Darda Nagar to cater to needs of nearby areas.

However, drought in the district last year forced the administration to go for Bembla water. Citizens are blaming corruption, short-sightedness of bureaucrats and apathy of people’s representatives for the problem. The outcome of this “fruitless endeavour” is that roads in Yavatmal have turned into trenches.

A social worker Nikhil Sayare has approached the State Human Rights Commission seeking intervention in the issue and action against officers responsible for supply of contaminated water from Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran.