Biswanath: After years of acute water scarcity, residents of Biswanath Ghat Puroni Gaon in Biswanath district have finally gained access to safe drinking water, despite crores of rupees reportedly spent under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Situated barely 100 metres from the Brahmaputra, the village had taps installed under the scheme, but villagers alleged that no functional water supply was ever provided. Efforts to lay pipelines and dig bore wells repeatedly failed due to rocky and gravel-heavy soil, while declining groundwater levels worsened the crisis. With only one functional well, families were forced to fetch water from distant areas.
Relief came through the intervention of Dr. Kishore Hazarika, Director of the Green Ashiyana Welfare Foundation, who financed and facilitated the installation of a scientifically identified safe drinking water system. Highlighting fluoride contamination in several parts of Biswanath Ghat, Dr. Hazarika said indiscriminate boring was not feasible. Two safe groundwater sources were inaugurated on Thursday, with plans to develop four to five more in the coming days.
Also Read: Kargil Hero’s Parents Criticise Gaurav Gogoi’s Pakistan Visits Amid Political Row in Assam
The development has sparked criticism from local organisations. Dilip Gojrel, Vice President of the All Assam Gurkha Student Union, said the lack of drinking water was Biswanath Ghat’s most pressing problem and questioned why a social activist, rather than the elected representative, had resolved it.
While authorities maintain that water supply has been ensured at several locations under the Jal Jeevan Mission, villagers said meaningful access to clean drinking water became a reality only after the recent private initiative.
