Over 100 women from ward 14 met mayor Chandrashekhar Agarwal on Friday and demanded immediate steps to restore water supply in their area.

The women from Shyam Dhaura, Rawani Tola, Nim Dhaura, Khariakabad and Jalan Factory were led by local councillor Nisar Alam.

Agarwal told the delegation that he would deploy water tankers from Saturday and instruct officials to desilt a large well and a pond situated in the area so that residents don’t face water crisis.

“As a temporary measure, water tankers will reach the localities from tomorrow. Laying of pipelines for supplying water from Maithon Lake is already under progress. We have instructed the authorities to accelerate the process.”

Although a tank had been built in the ward by the drinking water and supply department to supply piped water to the localities, it was lying non-functional due to delay in laying pipelines.

“Yesterday, the aggrieved people gheraoed my house demanding an immediate solution. I spoke to Agarwal who invited us for talks. After hearing the problems, he assured to provide water tankers for the time being and lay a pipeline in future,” Alam said.

Nim Dhaura resident Krishna Devi said, “Though water crisis is a perennial problem in the area, the situation aggravated recently after a deep well situated on the premises of Hindustan Malleable and Forgings factory at Bhuli became inaccessible for the common man after the unit shut down.”

“Drying up of a pond at Shyam Dhaura has further complicated the situation forcing people to fetch water from distant areas and even purchasing it from vendors,” she added.

“A lot of people used to fetch water from the BCCL quarters in Kharikabad. But the situation worsened recently after the company shifted its employees to new quarters.”

Recently, there was water crisis in Patliputra Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) because of irregular supply from Maithon Lake due to pipe leaks and undeclared rationing by the drinking water and supply division because of approaching summer.