It’s water over studies for children in Bhiwani village

 Sat Singh 

BHIWANI, APRIL 24

Water worries have worsened for villages at the tail end of canals in the district. Villagers, especially children, are a harried lot, who spend most of their time ferrying water from far and wide. 

In Dhani Mahu village of the district, the only water tank has gone dry, thus burdening children with the responsibility to arrange water. Pradeep Kumar, a village resident, said children spent most of their time fetching water than on studies. 

“We do not want to engage them for this work, but we are helpless, as it is a basic necessity,” he said. A child has to make at least 10-12 rounds of wells and ponds to fetch water for daily use, he added.

It’s been a month that children have been dutifully bringing water, losing time for their studies. Bhana Ram, a resident of the village, said lakhs were spent on constructing the water tank, but it’s useless as no water has been supplied for nearly a month. 

“Villagers have to drink brackish water procured on foot by women and children from far-flung areas,” he said, adding those who can afford, get water at their doorstep through water tankers.

Villagers said canal water remains the only means to fulfill their water needs, but since the village is located at the tail end, they fail to get their share. 

Officials of the Public Health Department have been apprised of the situation by the residents. However, their replies are equally dry. We were told by officials that we would get our share of water, once its supply was restored to the main canal, said a villager.

Nathu Ram, SDO, Public Health Department, could not be contacted on his phone despite repeated attempts.

For now, as the mercury soars and water crisis deepens, villagers have been left to fend for themselves.