Kumaon reels under acute water crisis

Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, April 11

Lack of rainfall during last winter has resulted in the depletion of water table in the Kumaon region. The surface water in Terai has gone several feet down, triggering acute drinking water crisis in the hill region.

Natural water sources are drying up amid lack of rain. “Students of a primary school in Diyuri, Champawat, have to fetch water from a distance of 3 km as the school’s water tap is dry for over a month,” says Chandra Shekhar Joshi, a local scribe.

Meanwhile, the devotees at the Purnagiri Temple are being inconvenienced in the wake of water crisis. Water level of natural sources around the temple has reduced to a considerable extent. “We have decided to supply drinking water at Bhairab temple, Tunnyas, Siddhmor and Kali temple through tankers where pilgrims are facing water shortage,” said BS Kuwarbi, assistant engineer, Jal Sansthan, Tanakpur.

Residents of Champawat town say the water problem has disturbed their daily routine as they have to travel long distance in search of water. The water being supplied by Jal Sansthan is inadequate. Satyam Joshi, a resident of Didihat town, said the district administration should order disconnection of electricity supply during water supply hours as several people use pumps to lift water to high rise buildings, making others look helpless.

In Terai region, the water level of the Gaula river, the lifeline of Haldwani in Nainital district, has gone down to 94 cusec. Generally this level of water in the river is witnessed in June. Nainital District Magistrate Deepak Rawat said, “We are shutting water supply to workshops in the town. Limited use of water will be ensured for all government and non-government works.”