Rising heat worsens water woes in Jaipur

Jaipur: As mercury hits 40 °C in Jaipur, several parts of the city, especially last-mile localities, are facing an acute water crisis. The shortage has sharply increased dependence on private water tankers, while prices have surged far beyond normal rates.

Residents in many neighbourhoods say the water supply has remained irregular for days. In areas such as Dadi Ka Phatak in Jhotwara, families are struggling to secure enough water for daily use. “For the last four to five days, the water supply in our locality has been scarce. To add on, private tankers are charging twice the normal rate,” stated Manoj Sharma, a resident of the Dadi Ka Phatak area.

The crisis has become more severe in high-rise apartments and residential complexes, where demand is much higher and dependence on groundwater or private tanker supply is common. With PHED supply failing to meet household needs, many societies are being forced to spend heavily on tanker water.

“We relied on these tankers heavily. We need around four tankers of water a day. It costs us around Rs 800 per tanker. Now, a few tanker suppliers are charging no less than Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,500,” said Sushil Kumar Jain, president of the residents’ welfare association of a residential complex.

According to official estimates, Jaipur has nearly 2,000 private water tankers, each with a capacity of 4,000 litres. Under normal conditions, a tanker supplies water to around 10 to 12 households a day. At present, however, operators are reportedly receiving more than 20 orders daily, reflecting the scale of the shortage and the mounting pressure on the city’s fragile water supply system.

Acknowledging the shortage, PHED officials, however, stated that the problem is confined only to the last-mile localities of the city. “We have sufficient supply from Bisalpur. There won’t be much problem in most households,” a PHED official added.