Water scarcity in Keating Road locality is reaching alarming proportions with people of the area continually suffering due to water crisis.
Every morning and afternoon residents of the locality can be seen waiting in long queues at some of the water taps in the area with empty buckets and plastic gallons for their turn. On most occasions this wait for water often leads to quarrels and sometimes fights between the residents.
A resident of the locality while speaking to The Shillong Times said that water scarcity is not a new problem in the locality and there is water shortage in the area almost throughout the year.
When contacted, the headman of Greater Keating Road, RD Blah, said, “Water is a big problem in our locality as the water taps in our locality generally remain dry.”
According to Blah, the area receives less than sufficient water during summers and the condition turns worse during the winter and dry months.
The residents also alleged that the concerned authorities have not done anything satisfactory so far to ensure adequate water supply in the area which has around 300 households.
Blah also stated that the area is in need of a reserve water tank which can cater to the increasing population of the area as till date the locality does not have a single water tank.
With water becoming a major concern for the people, the only hope now left for the residents of the area is the speedy commissioning of the Greater Shillong Water Supply scheme (GSWSS).
However, since the GSWSS is likely to be commissioned only next year, the residents of Keating Road have to endure water shortage for some more months.
(Afaque Hussain)
