Ranchi, Oct 28 (IANS): The opposition parties in Jharkhand on Wednesday slammed the Raghubar Das-led state government and demanded white paper over the issue of water crisis in the state.

The government started rationing water supply in Ranchi on Monday. According to the rationing system, water will be made available to the people only twice a week.

The water level of Dhruva dam, on which the state capital depends for its drinking water needs, has depleted beyond the minimum level and over two lakh people have have been affected, officials said.

"What a pro-people BJP government led by Raghubar Das! First pulse disappeared from lunch, and now water vanished," Jharkhand Congress general secretary Alok Dubey told IANS.

"People are facing problems. The reason behind this situation should be probed. How Dhruva dam's water level depleted? The state government should come out with white paper regarding water crisis in the state," Dubey said.

The main opposition party, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) too demanded white paper on the state's water crisis.

Former chief minister and Leader of Opposition Hemant Soren said: "The chief minister is busy in Bihar and forgot the wellbeing of the state. Jharkhand is facing the problem of drought and water crisis and people are waiting for relief."

"This is one-sided decision of the government. We have to fetch water from well or other sources. Some of our neighbours are fetching water in gallons," said Shalini, a housewife in Jagannathpur locality of Ranchi.

The residents said that they cannot store water for two or three days as they do not have storage facilities.