Chibati Population Drinks Rain Water

Nino Mshvidobadze, Lanchkhuti

Residents of Chibati village in Lanchkhuti district told humanrights.ge that they have coped with the problem of drinking water for several years already. The water from the well located in the village center polluted and they cannot drink. 

“We live in horrible conditions. We have listened only promises until now,” Izolda Beridze said, who cannot fetch water even from the well because of health problems. “I am bounded to the bed for four years already. I am 70 and cannot go and fetch water. I drink rain water,” the respondent told us and showed a vessel under the rain-pipe of the roof. 108 more families live in similar conditions; the well they use is full of mud and bugs.

“Although we applied to corresponding agencies several times, the problem was not resolved. They recall about us only before elections; they come, promise us to help, elections are over and everybody forgets about us. Some people came to our village lately too. They checked the water source and said it would cost too expensive. Whilst they do not have money, we will not have either. How long shall we live in these conditions?” Meri Chkhartishvili, a local resident, said.

Humanrights.ge contacted village governor Aleko Kukuladze.

“I can tell you that geologists arrived here, studied the issue and decided to restore the borehole that functioned in the village in the past and does not work now.”

The governor said the MP Temur Chkhaidze is also informed about this problem. We called the MP on the phone:

“I have information about this problem and of course I will do my best to resolve this problem for the population,” Chkhaidze said.

Lanchkhuti district deputy governor Vakhtang Zenaishvili said Chibati is not on the list of those ten villages, where drinking water problem will be resolved in the frame of the infrastructure project; however the borehole will be definitely restored there.

“We invited geologists to the village and they concluded that borehole shall be restored in the village soon,” Zenaishvili said. 

Humanrights.ge interviewed press-center of the Lanchkhuti district administration regarding the issue: “Since it was impossible to resolve the problem of 108 families’ drinking water with local sources. Based on the district governor Zaza Urushadze’s decision a letter was sent to the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, which states that since the community is not supplied with the technical and drinking water, the population uses local wells and streams that does not meet their real requirements, we consider it is necessary to restore borehole with the water system. For the purpose, we need consultations of the specialists and development of the project. So, the local government is informed about the problem of the Chali population and it will be resolved in near future,” the press-center clarified.