City’s 10 wards face water scarcity

Bhopal: Water scarcity has tightened its grip on the state capital, with nearly 10 of BMC 85 are receiving supply only on alternate days, according to BMC official.Koh-e-Fiza, located beside the Upper Lake and intersected by the Shereen Nadi, remains deprived of daily water supply despite its proximity to key water sources."Nearly 7% to 10% of the state capital is receiving alternate day water supply," said BMC city engineer Udit Garg.Water supply in the city is restricted to alternate days and despite repeated assurances during budget speeches of higher allocations and new pipeline projects, residents in several colonies say relief remains a distant prospect on ground. In Arif Nagar, children line up around sunset, clutching steel buckets, waiting for the municipal supply to trickle through pipes. "The situation has worsened during summers. Even with alternate day supply, the supply time has been reduced," said a local resident.Mothers ration every drop, deciding whether to cook, clean or save for the next day. In Chowkdarpura, shopkeepers sweep dusty floors with bottled water, while in Koh-e-Fiza, families gather around storage tanks, a situation for water to last for 48 hours.For many, the crisis is invisible. Offices in the city centre hum with air conditioners, restaurants serve chilled drinks, and the privileged rarely notice the struggle. But in Kabadhkhana and Berasia Road, the alternate-day supply dictates survival.In some areas, social events are aligned with water supply availability, said a Shahjehanbad resident.Yet amid hardship, resilience blooms. In Fiza Colony, neighbour share stored water, turning scarcity into solidarity. In Ghoda Nakkas, women teach children to conserve, reminding them that every drop is sacred.