Koderma: For nearly 100 tribal residents of Kalapahari hamlet under Dagarnawa panchayat in Koderma district, access to drinking water was fulfilled after years of acute scarcity as a tubewell was installed on Monday following chief minister Hemant Soren’s intervention.The breakthrough came after a video highlighting the villagers’ plight went viral, showing residents forced to share contaminated water pits with animals a few days ago. Taking cognisance, Hemant directed Koderma deputy commissioner Utkarsh Gupta to ensure immediate action.Daily life in Kalapahari has until now revolved around a punishing search for water. Villagers trekked over a kilometre across uneven terrain to access ‘chuans’ — shallow, hand-dug pits that collected limited and often unsafe water. The crisis worsened in summer as these sources dried up, while monsoon rain turned the pits muddy, forcing families to filter contaminated water at home for drinking and cooking.The newly installed tubewell has ensured access to clean drinking water within the village and significantly easing hardship.DC Gupta told TOI that the intervention will not remain limited to a single installation. “A comprehensive survey of Dagarnawa panchayat is underway to identify gaps in basic infrastructure and ensure long-term solutions,” he said.Residents called it a life-changing step after years of neglect. A villager, Lakhan Murmu said, “Now we don’t have to venture into the forest searching for water daily.”Another resident Fulchand Murmu added, “At times, the search for water too turned risky due to elephant movements.”
