Assam: Villagers in Boko accuse water supply department of contaminated water

The Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Boko Sub-Division supplies water in the Boko area including the Electricity office, PWD IB, many other government offices and nearby villages like 1 No. Dakuapara, 2 No. Dakuapara and other villages. 

However, villagers raised concerns over the supply of water that sometimes comes with dirty water and smells bad. 

Anonymous villagers from 1 no. Dakuapara village alleged, "We yet not get drinking water from the JJM scheme, however, the PHE Department supplies drinking water which smells like sewer water and it seems like the department provides us poison in the name of drinking water. Now we suspect, therefore in the Boko area cancer patients are increasing day by day, especially women." 

While visiting the PHED, the Boko Sub-Division office campus found two water supply projects. However, both projects are dirty, covered with cellulitis inside and outside of the water supply projects and dirty foam coming out of the water. Gautam Chandra Boro worked as Khalashi (4th grade) and said that he worked in the new water supply project which was started from 2023-24. 

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Regarding the water problem, he confessed that the water is not pure but regarding this matter, he reported many times to his seniors. Dipu Rabha (Khalashi or 4th-grade staff) said, "People of the Boko area and government offices get water two times in a day. In the morning 8- 9 am and in the evening 2-3pm everyday." 

It is worth mentioning that a Sub-Divisional level Laboratory (SDLL) is also in the Boko PHED office. While asking about the report of the water, Hitesh Talukdar, Assistant Chemist of SDLL refused to show the reports. 

Hitesh Talukdar said that around one year ago they tested the water but the report is not available. Talukdar makes excuses that they have lots of things to do especially to test Anganwadi centers' water and therefore they have no time to test water which supplied to households. 

Regarding all these matters, while trying to contact the SDO of Boko PHED Ameet Das, he did not respond. However, Officials of Boko PHED said that the SDO came to the office around 10 days after the last Biswakarma Puja, 17 September 2024.