Hope Drips from Every Tap: A Glimmer of Promise in Kamalpur Bhoga

In the peaceful village of Kamalpur Bhoga, located in Bijnor, there is an ongoing struggle for clean water. Despite its beauty, Bijnor faces water quality problems due to factors like industrial activities, agricultural runoff, and inadequate waste management. This highlights the immediate need for measures to guarantee the community’s access to safe drinking water.

Small-scale industries often dispose of their wastewater improperly, leading to heavy contamination of groundwater near their facilities. This groundwater pollution poses significant health risks, including the outbreak of waterborne diseases such as diarrhea and cholera. Proper assessment and management of wastewater discharged from industries are urgently needed to prevent further contamination of groundwater and protect public health.

For the residents of Kamalpur Bhoga, access to clean drinking water has been nothing short of a daily battle. Women walking miles under the scorching sun, children growing up with parched throats, and crops withering away due to lack of irrigation – this has been the harsh reality of life in this serene village. But amidst the despair, there shines a glimmer of hope – the Jal Jeevan Mission (Rural Water Supply Project in India).

The Detailed Project Report for Kamalpur Bhoga under the Jal Jeevan Mission brings promises of change, of transformation, and a future where every household will have access to clean, piped water supply. As the residents pore over the report, their hearts swell with anticipation, for they can finally envision a life where water is not a luxury but a right.

“हमने इस पल का बहुत लम्बे समय से इंतजार किया है (We have waited for this moment for far too long),” says Ravindra, a farmer whose fields have been thirsting for water. “इस योजना के साथ, हम अंत में आराम से सांस ले सकते हैं और अपनी जमीन और परिवार का पालन-पोषण करने पर ध्यान लगा कर सकते हैं। (With this project, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief and focus on nurturing our land and our families.)”

The vision of the project resonates deeply with the villagers – to provide drinking water to every rural household, school, and health center with the prescribed quality, and to ensure functional tap connections. But more than just providing water, the project aims to be sustainable, with measures such as recharge and reuse through greywater management, water conservation, and rain harvesting.

Catering to a population of 2135 as per the 2011 census, the Water Supply and Sanitation Project’s stages are meticulously planned, with population estimates for 2023, 2038, and 2053 guiding the development trajectory, with the ultimate aim of serving 4952 individuals by 2053. It has been estimated that each person would need about 55 liters of water per day; to do all the chores and we factored in a realistic 15% loss of water. 

Tube wells emerge as the primary water source, ensuring a daily supply to meet the escalating demands of the growing population. So, the minimum tube well yield required is 1083 LPM(Liters Per Minute). We assume that required yield is available in this proposed area. Hence, one a number of tube wells have been adopted with a discharge rate of 650 LPM.

With meticulous planning, a robust infrastructure comprising a rising main and an overhead tank with a capacity of 200 KL is also set to be established. The distribution system, designed adhering to Jal Jeevan Mission standards, promises efficient water delivery, addressing the needs of the community comprehensively.

In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “Water is the driving force of all nature.” Indeed, water is not just a resource; it is life itself. And for the residents of Kamalpur Bhoga, this project is more than just pipes and taps – it is a lifeline, a beacon of hope in a world parched with uncertainty.

But amidst the optimism, there lingers a sense of caution. Will the promises made in the report translate into reality? Will the implementation of the project be smooth, or will bureaucratic hurdles dampen the villagers’ spirits? These questions hang heavy in the air, a reminder that change, no matter how promising, is never easy.

The proposed water supply source, powered by tube wells, symbolizes the village’s journey towards self-sufficiency. With a discharge rate carefully calibrated to meet the demands of the community, it stands as a beacon of hope in the midst of adversity.Tube wells are successful in this area. Water discharge of 621 LPM is required as per intermediate year demand, considering 6.5hrs of pumping. The pumping rate shall be less than 60% of the yield of the tube well. 

But perhaps the true heroes of this story are the Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs), each one representing a family’s newfound freedom from the shackles of water scarcity. As the villagers gather around these taps, their faces aglow with newfound hope, it becomes clear that Kamalpur Bhoga is not just a village; it’s a testament to the power of community and collective action.

Yet, as the sun sets over Kamalpur Bhoga, casting a golden glow over the horizon, the residents find solace in the knowledge that they are not alone in this journey. With organizations like Carbyne supporting the mission, and with the collective determination of the villagers, they stand poised on the brink of a new dawn – a dawn where water flows freely, and hope springs eternal. As they await the fruition of the Jal Jeevan Mission, the residents of Kamalpur Bhoga hold onto their dreams with steadfast resolve, for they know that in the end, it is not just water they seek, but the promise of a better tomorrow.