Residents of Didihat in Pithoragarh district have faced a drinking-water shortage for 20 days after a pump in the Thal pumping scheme developed a fault. The disruption has affected the town’s 15,000 residents and forced some households to arrange water from natural sources by booking vehicles.
The Thal scheme draws water from the Ramganga River and supplies Didihat. The town requires 7 MLD of water each day, but the damaged pump has reduced current supply to 3–4 MLD, according to the report.
Residents submit memorandum
Frustrated residents visited the Jal Sansthan office on Tuesday and submitted a memorandum to the department’s Executive Engineer, Suresh Joshi. They said the continuing shortage had compelled people to search for natural water sources to meet their daily needs.
The residents alleged that the department had neither completed repairs to the pumping scheme nor arranged water distribution through tankers. They warned that the situation could lead to stronger protests if regular supply was not restored.
Their stated deadline is one week. If water supply is not normalised within that period, they said they would lock the Jal Sansthan office and begin an indefinite sit-in protest.
Those named as submitting the memorandum include Himanshu Chufal, Chanchal Chauhan, Banshidhar Bhatt, Sujata Devi, Basant Joshi, Umed Vishwakarma, Deepak Joshi, Deepak Mehra and Balwant Kanyal, among others.
Jal Sansthan response
Suresh Joshi, Executive Engineer of Jal Sansthan in Didihat, said the problem was caused by a fault in one pump of the Thal pumping scheme. He said repair work was underway and that drinking-water supply would be restored soon.
The immediate issue for residents is the gap between the town’s daily requirement and the reduced volume currently reaching it. Until the faulty pump is repaired, households continue to face uncertainty over regular access to drinking water.
Conclusion
The Thal pumping scheme fault has left Didihat receiving 3–4 MLD against a daily requirement of 7 MLD for 20 days. Residents have threatened an office lockout and indefinite sit-in within one week, while Jal Sansthan says repairs are in progress and supply will soon be restored.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How many people have been affected by the water shortage?
The shortage has affected Didihat’s 15,000 residents.
Q. What caused the disruption?
A pump in the Thal pumping scheme developed a fault.
Q. How much water does Didihat currently receive?
The town is receiving 3–4 MLD, compared with its daily requirement of 7 MLD.
Q. How are some residents arranging water?
They are booking vehicles to bring water from natural sources.
Q. What action have residents threatened?
They have warned of locking the Jal Sansthan office and starting an indefinite sit-in if supply is not restored within one week.
Q. What has the Jal Sansthan said?
Executive Engineer Suresh Joshi said the fault is being repaired and supply will be restored soon.
