Incessant water woes cripple Raipur Khurd

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 18

Despite the fact the Municipal Corporation took over Raipur Khurd village over two years ago, low water supply has been a persistent problem.

The water supply is low. A booster must be set up here and supply timings should be increased. After the village came under the civic body, things in all sectors have only deteriorated — Laxman Singh, Former Sarpanch

Villagers have demanded that a booster be set up in the village so that they can get relief from the problem. They said: “If water motor goes out of order, no one cares to repair it for days, which further aggravates our hardships.”

Former sarpanch Laxman Singh said: “The water supply is low. A booster must be set up here and supply timings should be increased. After the village came under the civic body, things in all sectors have only deteriorated.”

Besides, like other villages, sewerage and storm water system is overburdened and roads are in a dilapidated condition in the village.

The houses outside the Lal Dora, which are not yet under the MC, are the worst hit as they often have to depend on water tankers. The supply is irregular and low.

“We have been getting up at 4 or 5 am to fill our water buckets. In our area, water is unavailable after 7 am. Even when it is available, the pressure is very low,” lamented Suresh Kumari, who has been living in the village since 1996. Another resident Maniram shared: “We are managing with water tankers. It is a normal thing here.”

This village is situated at the entry of the UT near the Zirakpur-Chandigarh barrier. “It should have been a role model as this is the first residential area of the city on this end. However, we have been subjected to step-motherly treatment for years,” said Baljit, another resident.

Read also: Dry taps rile Raipur Khurd residents

Similar story at Raipur Kalan, Behlana

These two UT villages, which were also merged with the MC, have been struggling with worn out storm and sewerage water system and poor road condition. Gurdeep Singh, former sarpanch of Raipur Kalan, which falls near Baltana, said leave alone any new development work after theMC took over, even routine works such as cleaning of inner roads was not being done. Jit Singh, former Sarpanch of Behlana, said: “The MC formed committees for development of villages, but they have no idea about our issues. The panels are only a political thing. No work has started, but the MC has is charging commercial tax.”

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