Samba villagers forced to drink dirty river water

Vishal Jasrotia

Samba, March 19

Nearly 70 families in Hundad and Jeed village of the Kard panchayat in Samba district have been drinking contaminated river water as the district administration has failed to supply them potable water over the past six decades.

Inhabitants of Hundad village said they trek long distances every day to fetch water from a river for drinking and other purposes.

“In the absence of tap water facility, we have to walk at least 3 km through difficult and hilly terrain to fetch water from a stream located in the foothills of a mountain. Women have to make at least three trips every day to get water,” said Darshana Devi, a resident of Hundad village.

“Women reach home carrying heavy pots of water and then get down to doing the house chores and also look after the children and livestock. We have to again leave house in the evening to fetch water. Our life is sheer drudgery,” said Taro Devi, another villager resident.

“The villagers have been leading a pathetic life and are forced to drink muddy and contaminated water from the river from where cattle also drink water. The residents have no other option but to use the river water,” said Sardar Singh, a villager.

“Despite repeated requests, the authorities concerned are paying no heed,” he alleged. He said the Public Health Engineering Department had provided potable water supply to all hamlets of the Kard panchayat except Hundad and Jeed.

“The administration has made no provision for drinking water for 70 families living in Hundad and Jeed village. Despite assurances by the administration, nothing has been done for the past six decades,” said Bhag Singh, a local.

Various political parties had during the past elections assured the villagers that they would resolve their drinking water problem, but none kept its word, he added.