Mahasamund Municipality has been embroiled in a controversy around the issue of double standards in implementing water supply rules. The civic administration’s consistent action on imposing fines on its residents for installing motor pumps on public tap-holes is not mirrored at other government-funded Anganwadi centres, the reports said, adding that Anganwadi officials have been found to be approving the installation of similar pumps at the public tap-holes at some of the centres.
The issue has provoked doubt concerning the fairness of the application of the rules. Women and Child Development Department has said it was not aware of the agreement and both the government and the officials have pledged to look into it.
At present, the population of Mahasamund Municipality is about 80,000 people provided with drinking water through a household water supply system set up in 30 wards. Water tax is paid for such connections and residents are not supposed to hook motor pumps to tap lines. Other homes may put a pump in during the summer months to make more water available, and these can have a negative impact on the water supply for nearby homes. Infrastructure staff from the municipality conduct routine checks and confiscate illegal pumps, and deals with offenders in order to prevent that.
But, the recent finding of motor pumps which have been linked to municipal water lines at some Anganwadi centres has created a cause for concern. According to the local Anganwadi workers, the municipality’s installation of the pumps was done to maintain a consistent flow of water through the centres.
In total, there are 58 Anganwadi centres in the municipal area with similar facilities found, so far, at two centres. It will be investigated and examined to see if there were any violations of the municipal bylaws or who is responsible,” officials said. The investigation is likely to uncover if this is a practice of only a few sites or whether it is more common. This will also help to decide if it is the outcome stage of the process that will bring accountability or the issue is left unresolved even with assurances for action.