Residents of Halaichhara, under Golakpur ADC Village and Sarojini Gram Panchayat, are grappling with an acute drinking water crisis since September 26, after the water supply was completely cut off. For nearly two weeks, the villagers have been struggling without access to safe drinking water.
Frustrated by the prolonged inaction of the administration and the indifference of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, villagers staged a road blockade this afternoon on the main route connecting Ishan Choudhury Para to Srirampur.
According to locals, the water supply pipeline from the Iron Removal Plant in Golakpur village had burst several days ago, but the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department has yet to repair it. Repeated complaints reportedly went unaddressed, with officials citing festive-season office closures and worker shortages as reasons for the delay.
Villagers claimed that even temporary water arrangements could have been made during the crisis, but the department failed to act.
Following the protest, a large contingent of police from Kailashahar Police Station, along with TSR personnel, arrived at the scene. Additional Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Karjon Halam also held talks with the protesters. Despite this, villagers refused to lift the blockade until departmental officials arrived in person and assured that repairs would be completed and water supply restored by the end of the day.
The protest has caused long queues of stranded vehicles on both sides, severely inconveniencing daily commuters. Tensions in the area remain high as the standoff continues.
