JAISALMER: With monsoon rainfall in the Pakistan-border districts of Jaisalmer and Barmer falling to less than half the average, fears of a severe drought are mounting. Amid concerns over a possible water crisis, Jaisalmer District Collector Anupama Jorwal on Friday inspected the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) headworks at 193 RD to review drinking water supply arrangements and assess the progress of ongoing projects.She reviewed operational multi-village drinking water supply schemes and works under the Jal Jeevan Mission, issuing necessary directions to the officials concerned.A few days earlier, Barmer District Collector Chinmayi Gopal had also visited the main drinking water head of the Barmer Lift Canal, located in Jaisalmer district, to review the system in view of the emerging drought situation. She directed officials to prepare a contingency plan for the coming summer well in advance and expedite the completion of pending projects.
Jaisalmer city struggles with erratic water supply
Jaisalmer city has been facing a serious drinking water crisis, with the supply system severely disrupted for the past one-and-a-half years. Water is being supplied once every five to six days in several parts of the city, while some areas receive it only once every seven days.Despite the worsening situation, residents allege that neither senior officials nor public representatives have taken serious steps to address the problem. People are increasingly frustrated with repeated assurances from officials and political leaders as the crisis continues.Against this backdrop, Collector Jorwal inspected the PHED headworks on Friday to review the system and direct officials to improve water supply arrangements.During the inspection, she reviewed the intake pump house, the operational seven-village and 14-village multi-village water supply schemes, and the progress of a new pump house and a clear water reservoir (RWR) being constructed under the Jal Jeevan Mission for the 22-village water supply scheme.
Collector reviews rural water supply arrangements
Jorwal subsequently visited Chhanganiyon Ki Basti, which is covered under the scheme, and inspected the solar-powered pumping system. She reviewed the supply of drinking water to households through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) and the availability of water in livestock troughs.She later inspected the PHED headworks at Rojaniyon Ki Basti and reviewed drinking water supply arrangements for the 14 villages connected to the facility.The collector directed officials to ensure adequate water storage in reservoirs and take necessary measures to increase their storage capacity.She also instructed them to ensure a regular and uninterrupted water supply to villages, strengthen monitoring of the distribution system and minimise technical disruptions through regular preventive maintenance.Emphasising the urgency of the situation, Jorwal directed officials to prioritise and expedite pending works under the Jal Jeevan Mission so that more rural households could benefit from the schemes.
Barmer plans to utilise additional water stored at canal escape reservoir
Meanwhile, Barmer Collector Chinmayi Gopal, accompanied by PHED officials, inspected an escape reservoir constructed by the Water Resources Department at 1,356 RD of the Indira Gandhi Canal.The reservoir has been designed to store additional water during periods of excessive rainfall.Gopal directed officials to prepare a detailed proposal at the earliest to transport the stored water to Mohangarh for use during canal closures or periods of water scarcity.The proposed arrangement could provide an additional source of water for the project and improve the reliability of drinking water supplies during the summer months.
