Lucknow: As floodwater recedes in Faizullaganj, residents are facing a drinking water crisis, with several household borewells rendered non-functional and others yielding dirty, foul-smelling water after floodwater and silt entered the sources.Residents of Lohramau, Millatnagar, Faizullaganj Dhaal and Mama Colony said groundwater was their primary source of drinking water. With borewells failing or supplying potentially contaminated water, families are struggling to arrange safe drinking water even as they begin returning to their homes.“We are relieved that the floodwater has receded, but the problem is far from over. Drinking water remains a major concern, and we do not know when the situation will improve,” said Shaista Alam, a resident of the affected area.Suman Verma, a resident of Mama Colony, said the failure of household borewells had disrupted daily life. “We need clean drinking water for our families, and the authorities should ensure that it reaches every affected household,” she said.Kuldeep Singh, general manager of Jal Kal department, said around 25 water tankers had been deployed in flood-affected areas to provide drinking water. “Residents can call the helpline numbers when they need water, and a tanker will be sent to their locality,” he said.Meanwhile, Lucknow Municipal Corporation has stepped up drainage and sanitation work in affected areas. It has deployed 64 pumps in flood-hit Zones 3 and 6 to remove stagnant water. Twelve desilting machines are being used to clean drains, septic tanks and spots where water and silt have accumulated.The civic body has also carried out fogging across around 18 km of lanes to control mosquitoes. Anti-larval spray was conducted across 56 acres in Faizullaganj using drones, along with other mosquito-control measures.
