In Chaliswan village of Mau district, Uttar Pradesh, a flagship government drinking water initiative under the Jal Jeevan Mission has collapsed due to severe administrative oversight. An overhead water tank was constructed and a piped network installed to ensure clean tap water for every household in the village. Although supply commenced smoothly in the initial phase, residential taps have now run completely dry. Residents report that the drinking water motor is being diverted to irrigate private paddy fields, pushing the entire community into a severe water crisis.
Drinking Water Halted to Irrigate Paddy Fields
Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, extensive infrastructure including pipelines and household tap connections was established in Chaliswan village to alleviate long-standing water hardship. However, this facility was disrupted shortly after launch. According to local resident Brijesh Chauhan, the electric motor designated for supplying potable household water is being misused by the system operator to irrigate farmers' paddy crops for personal monetary gain.
To facilitate this private irrigation arrangement, the operator completely shut down the main drinking water supply to the village. As a result, villagers are left without water for drinking, cooking, or personal hygiene. Brijesh Chauhan emphasized that using the community motor for private commercial irrigation has deprived hundreds of families of essential water access.
Falling Groundwater and Dysfunctional Handpumps
Explaining the depth of the crisis, resident Radheshyam pointed out that standard shallow household handpumps, locally referred to as number 4 machines, have ceased working entirely. Groundwater tables across the area have dropped significantly, rendering these small handpumps ineffective. Consequently, households have no functioning alternative water source within their premises.
Radheshyam added that piped water flows sporadically for a brief window of 10 to 30 minutes before shutting off abruptly, making it impossible for families to store adequate supplies. Left with no alternative, residents are forced to walk long distances carrying heavy containers to fetch water from distant India Mark II handpumps. Resident Rajendra Chauhan noted that this chronic shortage severely disrupts daily routines, creating hurdles for cooking meals, washing clothes, and getting children ready for school on time.
Women Face Daily Humiliation for Drinking Water
The burden of this ongoing shortage falls heavily on local women. Village residents Kewala, Chandrakala, and Laxmina Kanojia shared that because domestic shallow pumps yield no water, they must regularly visit neighboring households to collect water. During these trips, they often endure harsh taunts and verbal degradation from neighbors who are also managing limited resources.
Despite the humiliation, the women explain that they have no choice but to absorb the insults in order to bring home drinking water for their families. They stressed that if the Jal Jeevan Mission tap network provided reliable and timely water, it would solve their daily struggles regarding cooking, bathing, and laundry.
Villagers Threaten Mass Protest Over Administrative Inaction
Local residents stated that they have repeatedly submitted complaints to concerned departmental officials regarding the irregular supply and the operator's unauthorized diversion of water. However, despite numerous appeals, administrative authorities have failed to investigate the matter or initiate corrective action against the operator.
Frustrated by administrative neglect, the villagers have issued a firm ultimatum. They declared that if their grievances are not addressed and regular drinking water supply is not restored immediately, they will organize a sit-in demonstration and initiate a full-scale public agitation against the authorities.
