Water scarcity looms large at govt hospital

MADURAI: Summer has just begun but the Government Rajaji Hospital here is already reeling without adequate water supply. Over the next four months when summer will be at its peak, the water crisis at the hospital is only expected to compound. Although water scarcity is a recurring one, as every summer is a haunting time for authorities of one of the biggest hospitals in the state in terms of number of patients treated, yet no constructive step has been taken so far to solve the issue.
"The problem of water scarcity has already started surfacing. There are three borewells for GRH but we are getting yield from only one of the borewells. At present, we are surviving using the water supplied by Madurai Corporation. One of the main water connections to the hospital is blocked by the public works department. We are going to approach the district collector to release water from the connection," said a higher official from GRH, when contacted.
Sources from the hospital said the hospital needs around 10 lakh litres of water a day in order to keep it clean. But the available water is just around four lakh litres. With the peak summer yet to come water supply for the hospital would come down to just three lakh litres of water.
"Sanitation has become a primary issue as toilets are stinking without ample water. The available water is just enough to supply for the toilets. Scrubbing and washing the floors in the wards are hardly done due to the unavailability of water," said a hospital worker.
Water availability for toilets alone is not enough. Water should also be ensured to patients for bathing and drinking purposes. Collective action is required to ensure that the GRH sails through the summer without water scarcity.
At a time when the GRH is reeling under severe water problem, construction of new specialty blocks are being done on the premises, which would further augment the problem. An eight-storied building is coming up inside the premises for reproductive and child health (RCH) centre of excellence. Water requirement is likely to go up for sure, said K Senthil, president, Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association.
"The hospital, which was meant to cater to less than 1,000 in-patients is now treating around 3,000 in-patients. We are trying control the attendants since three per patient increases the number to 7,500. It is highly impossible to supply water for the increasing numbers," said Dr Revwathy Kailairajan, dean, Madurai Medical College and GRH.