Water crisis deepens as Baijnath villages get supply twice a week

Several areas of Baijnath in Kangra district are grappling with an acute shortage of potable water. Water supply schemes have failed to meet the daily needs of residents, leaving over 20 villages in the Chadhiar area with poor water access for the past week. In most of these villages, residents receive water for only two hours every third day.

Advertisement

The situation is particularly dire in villages like Nanwar, Janas, Bhulna, Chambe da Behru, Doli, Kholi, Nihang Basti, Tanchi and Birdi, which are now receiving water only twice a week. Despite repeated public appeals, the Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Department has not been able to ensure adequate water supply.

Rahul Dhiman, Executive Engineer of the IPH Department, said most water sources feeding the supply schemes in these villages have dried up, triggering the crisis. He noted that even recent rains have not improved the water levels significantly. “Efforts are underway to streamline water supply to the affected areas. With the onset of summer, the demand has increased not just in Chadhiar but across the district,” he said.

Dhiman added that the department is trying to provide water to each village at least every third day for three to four hours. However, if rainfall continues to elude the region, the situation may worsen. He stressed that the department’s priority is to keep all water supply schemes operational. He requested people to refrain from irrigating kitchen gardens or washing vehicles with tap water. Several lift irrigation schemes in the region are already water-deficient, he added.

Anil Verma, Executive Engineer of the IPH Palampur Division, said larger water schemes drawing water from the Neugal and Awa khuds — which feed Palampur town and nearby areas — remain unaffected for now. However, he warned that continued dry weather could soon impact these schemes. “If it doesn’t rain soon, areas fed by the Neugal river could face a serious crisis,” Verma said.

Baijnath MLA Kishori Lal visited the affected villages and assured residents that regular water supply would be restored soon. He said the IPH officials had promised daily water supply in the coming days.