Walled City residents struggle for water as temperature soars

Jaipur: As temperatures rise, water scarcity is becoming a daily challenge in several parts of walled city, forcing many families to depend on private tankers and even seek drinking water from neighbours.

In localities such as Badanpura, Ramganj and Chowkri Topkhana Desh, residents say water supply has become increasingly erratic. Apart from low pressure in taps, the duration of supply has also been reduced in many areas. While earlier water flowed for around 45 minutes, residents claim it now lasts barely 30 minutes and, in some areas, only 10 minutes.

The situation has left many households scrambling to store enough water for daily use. Residents allege that the number of tankers being supplied is far from adequate for densely populated localities, forcing them to spend around Rs 500 on private water tankers.

Mohammad Zakir, a resident of Badanpura, said uncertainty over supply timings has added to the problem. “There is no fixed schedule. Sometimes water comes early in the morning and sometimes in the evening. Even then, it lasts only for a few minutes. We end up ordering tankers every other day, which is becoming expensive,” he said.

Another resident Aslam said he never faced such a difficult situation in the area before. “I have been living here for years and water was never an issue. This summer, however, our household is struggling to manage daily needs,” he said.

Former councillor Akhtar Hussain said a single tanker for an entire locality was not enough. “People are already dealing with shortages and the problem has become more pronounced during the festive season. One tanker cannot cater to the needs of a whole neighbourhood,” he said.

A similar picture has emerged in Chowkri Topkhana Desh. Former councillor Arvind Methi said residents were being forced to rely on each other for water. “People are carrying utensils from one house to another in search of water. We call officials in the morning for tankers and sometimes they arrive only late at night,” he said.

Nidhi Singh, a local resident, said the problem began even before the peak summer months. “We started facing shortages by the end of April. Complaints are made regularly, but there has been little relief on the ground,” she said.