Residents of Jyotinagar colony in north Kolkata’s Cossipore have been without a regular drinking-water supply for 35 days, forcing hundreds of families to collect water from the polluted Ganga or buy it from municipal tankers, National Herald reported.
Five public taps that once supplied water to the locality have remained dry, turning the water shortage into a daily struggle for residents of the largely Muslim settlement.
Jyotinagar, locally known as Molla Para or Muslim Colony, has existed for around six decades. Residents said the crisis began after Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) workers carried out pipeline repairs between July 27 and 29.
According to residents, water returned on July 29 but stopped around 11.30 pm that night. They said repeated complaints to the KMC, police and local administration have produced little result.
Residents Accuse BJP MLA of Discrimination
The prolonged shortage has led residents to allege that the problem may not be a technical failure but an act of political discrimination.
Residents have specifically pointed to local BJP MLA Ritesh Tiwari. They allege that after the election, Tiwari told a public meeting that he would not work for Muslims for the next five years because they had not voted for him.
Residents also alleged that Tiwari had described people living in the colony as illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.
Tiwari has denied that the water shortage was deliberate and attributed the problem to pipeline maintenance.
“There was maintenance work that was done in the pipeline. That might have caused some problem. We came to know about the incident. We are looking into the matter,” he said.
Children Forced to Use Polluted Ganga Water
The water shortage has severely affected daily life, with residents saying children are being forced to bathe and wash in the Ganga.
“Many children have fallen into the Ganga, and some narrowly escaped drowning. Even those who cannot swim are forced to bathe in the river,” resident Jahanara Bibi said.
Roshmila Khatun said families were using polluted river water for almost everything.
“We are using this Ganga water for everything. Just see the filth and garbage in it. Our children bathe here. Even babies of six and seven months are brought to the ghat and bathed there. Their skin turns red, rashes all over their bodies,” she said.
Residents said the muddy and slippery riverbank is particularly dangerous for elderly people and persons with disabilities. Several people have reportedly been injured while collecting or using water.
Water Crisis Affects Education and Prayers
The shortage has also affected children’s education. Isa Khatun, a 15-year-old student, said she has been unable to attend school because of the water crisis, with examinations approaching.
Residents said the school inside the colony also does not have a water connection.
The shortage has affected religious practices as well. Residents said people at the local mosque are struggling to perform wudu, the ritual ablution required before prayers.
Families Pay Rs 700 for Tanker Water
Around 500 families live in the colony, many of them dependent on daily-wage work. Construction workers and labourers in bottle-melting factories form a significant part of the local workforce.
Residents said paying for water has added to their financial burden.
Alamgir Biswas, secretary of the local CPI(M) branch, said residents were paying around Rs 700 for KMC tanker water.
“A single tanker every three or four days is not enough for 5,000 people,” he said.
Residents estimate the population of the area at between 3,500 and 5,000.
Congress Questions BJP’s Intentions
West Bengal Congress president Suvankar Sarkar, who visited the locality, alleged that the water crisis could be connected to plans concerning the land.
“There is a Jain college just at the border of this locality and I think the BJP is trying to drive these people from this area and give the land to them. Or they might also plan to give the area to a big promoter as the land is very lucrative. We are with the people and will stand by them,” he said.
Residents have also alleged that BJP workers threatened them with eviction. They maintain that the colony is government-registered and has existed for generations.
“If we are encroachers, several residents ask, why did nobody say so for seventy years? Our slum is a registered one. How did it suddenly become KoPT (Kolkata Port Trust) land, and how can they want to evict us?” resident Salauddin Shiekh said.
The West Bengal Slum Development Association has submitted representations to authorities over the issue. The Human Rights Commission has also been informed.
Lawyer Shamim Ahmed said the association approached the court over the alleged eviction threat and obtained a stay order.
TMC Promises Water Tankers
Residents have also criticised local TMC councillor Suman Singh, alleging that he failed to respond adequately to the crisis.
TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh said party workers had been asked to assist the affected families.
“We have asked our local party leaders to help the affected residents by arranging water tankers. We will also provide them with legal assistance in court,” Ghosh said.
