Jamshedpur: Regular supply of potable tap water and improved drainage system are the two major talking points among the electors across 32 wards of the poll-bound Adityapur Municipal Corporation (AMC).Home to over 2.5 lakh people, the wards face acute water shortages for months as key drinking water and sewage treatment projects remain stalled for years.Tired of promises which remain unfulfilled, the electorate is demanding assurance on ensuring the completion of the two vital projects linked to public health.“In half of the wards, residents face water shortages from March to July every year. Contrary to the claims, tap water connections have not reached houses in several wards,” said Prem Kumar of ward number 28.Om Prakash Singh, a resident of ward number 19, said the contractual firm dug streets to lay the sewage pipes, pits and manholes and left them uncovered, causing accidents regularly.“Due to the lack of a proper sewage and drainage system, residents faced problems in the last monsoon season. Streets and houses (located near the drains) were inundated. Drain water gushed into the rooms in several houses,” said Prashant Mahato of ward 23.A Rs 395 crore-drinking water project, sanctioned in Rs 2019 and a Rs 235 crore sewage project, sanctioned in 2018, are yet to be complete.“We are expecting to provide water to households ahead of summer this year, while the drainage project will take some time,” said AMC Administrator Ravi Prakash.The residents said in the last seven years, they received several deadlines from the AMC officials about supplying water to the houses.The candidates, meanwhile, said 2026 will be a new beginning for the AMC as far as development is concerned. “It is true that the lack of amenities caused many problems for the people, but with my govt in the state being serious about development, I assure AMC will see a new beginning, provided people elect me to the mayoral post,” said JMM-supported candidate Bhuglu Soren.
