Water supply has been cut off for nearly a month in Kolkata’s Jyotinagar colony. Residents of several hundred families, including Jahanara Bibi, have been caught in the crisis. Forced to meet their daily needs, they are using water from the Ganges — but this has exposed them to various risks.
Jahanara Bibi said: “Even small children are going to the ghat to wash their faces. Many children have fallen into the Ganges, and some narrowly escaped drowning. Even those who can’t swim are being forced to bathe in the river.”
Jyotinagar colony is located in the Kashipur area of Ward 6 under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). Roughly 5,000 people have lived here for about 60 years. Most residents are Muslim, though a small number of Hindu families also live here. The area is locally known as “Mollapara,” or the Muslim colony.
Many colony residents work as construction laborers. Some work for low wages at bottle-melting factories.
Saraswati Biswas, who has lived in Jyotinagar colony for 60 years, said: “For a long time, poor people from both the Hindu and Muslim communities have lived here together through various hardships. But a crisis like this is entirely new for us.”
The colony has six water taps. Since July 29, water supply has been completely cut off at all of them. Residents allege that while their taps have run dry, water taps in Hindu-majority colonies on the same road remain functional.
Local residents say KMC workers came on July 27 to repair the colony’s water pipeline. Repair work continued until July 29, and residents received water that day. But around 11:30 p.m. that night, they suddenly found the water supply had stopped.
The next day, residents contacted the police and the municipal corporation office, but say they received no positive response from the authorities. The day after that, electricity to the colony’s streets was also cut off.
Residents say several children have developed fever, headaches and skin diseases from using contaminated river water. Many have been seriously injured after falling on the muddy, slippery steps at the ghat. The situation is even riskier for elderly, visually impaired and disabled residents, who also must use river water for bathing and daily tasks.
Residents allege that cutting the street lights has further increased the risk for children. Isa Khatun, a 15-year-old schoolgirl, said the water crisis has prevented her from attending school. With the crisis beginning during exam season, she said, her studies have suffered badly. Even the school in the slum area has not been given a water connection.
Isa added: “Cutting off the street lights has created a major security risk for the women of the colony.”
Saraswati Biswas said: “The BJP plays Hindu-Muslim politics that only harasses poor people.” She said every resident of the slum has been affected by the prolonged water crisis.
Residents say the CPI(M) and the West Bengal Bustee Unnayan Samity have been trying to arrange drinking water through KMC every three to four days.
Alamgir Biswas, secretary of the local CPI(M) branch, said: “We are getting a water tanker from KMC for 700 rupees. But one tanker of water every three to four days isn’t enough for 5,000 people.”
He added: “We’ve informed the police. We’ve also submitted a memorandum to the municipal corporation. It’s been almost a month now.”
He said the party had also worked actively to restore electricity to the colony’s street lights on Wednesday.
Residents say they have received no response from Trinamool Congress (TMC) ward councillor Sumon Sing either. Several residents allege he left the area after the election results were announced.
Residents also claim the water crisis is linked to past remarks by BJP MLA Ritesh Tiwari. He is alleged to have said he would not work for the minorities who did not vote for him.
DYFI activist Milan Biswas said: “BJP MLA Ritesh Tiwari previously called the people of this slum illegal Bangladeshi migrants at a party event. His remarks that he wouldn’t work for minorities spread on social media. He is now acting on exactly what he said.”
Slum residents are also worried about a possible eviction drive. They allege local BJP workers have been threatening eviction, and claim evictions of hawkers and slum-dwellers have increased since the BJP’s victory in West Bengal.
Saraswati Biswas said: “I have lived here for 60 years. This slum is everything to me. I’m not going anywhere.”
Journalist and columnist Arka Bhaduri said: “What is happening to the residents of Jyotinagar colony is shameful for Indian democracy. It is unconstitutional. They are being put through this unimaginable situation simply for being Muslim.”
Criticizing Kolkata’s civil society, he said: “The fact that civil society in Kolkata and West Bengal still hasn’t taken to the streets is shameful for all of us. It reflects the Islamophobia that exists within us.”
With the water connection cut off, worshippers going to the mosque for prayers have also been unable to perform ablution. Amid fears of eviction, the West Bengal Bustee Unnayan Samity has approached the court to protect the slum. CPI(M) leader Shamim Ahmed is handling the case. He said the court has granted a stay order against the slum’s eviction.
However, even after the court’s order, the water crisis in Jyotinagar colony continues.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report