12 Rohtak villages await completion of Rs 44 cr drinking water project

Nearly 70,000 residents of 12 villages in Rohtak district have been eagerly awaiting the completion of a drinking water project which would bring canal water through a network of pipelines.

The ambitious project, being carried out at a cost of Rs 44 crore, is expected to quench the thirst of Nonand, Gandhra, Gijhi, Dattaur, Atail, Naya Baas, Bhainsru Kalan, Bhainsru Khurd, Morkheri, Kasrenti, Pakasma and Samchana villages in Sampla block of this district.

However, villagers maintain that the project is getting delayed due to slackness of the contractors assigned the work of laying the pipelines and lackadaisical approach of the authorities concerned. Hence, the hapless villagers are still forced to buy water from private suppliers.

"Those who cannot afford to buy water from private suppliers fetch water for drinking and other domestic needs from hand-pumps installed at some distance from the village settlements," points out Hemant, a resident of Nonand.

Sachin, a resident of Kharawar, says they had been facing scarcity of water for several years and sanctioning of the project for their neighbouring villages had raised the hope that their village would also get adequate water in near future.

Rohtak Zila Parishad member Dheeraj Malik, who has played an instrumental role in approval of the project, states that the project had missed its deadline and was still progressing at a slow pace.

"The residents of the villages facing an acute shortage of water for a long time are eagerly awaiting the completion of the project. We have apprised the officials concerned of the slackness in the project," says Malik.

On the other hand, the officials concerned of the Department of Public Health and Engineering deny any delay in the execution of the project, which was started last year.

"Work on the project is in progress and it will be completed within the stipulated time," asserts Sandeep Kumar, Executive Engineer, Public Health and Engineering Department, Rohtak, refuting the claim that the project has missed its deadline.