3 weeks on, Jhajjar villagers not getting drinking water

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, June 15

Residents of Harijan basti in Kablana village are compelled to fetch potable water from 1-km distance as they have not been getting water supply for the past several days due to unauthorised connections.

“We are dependent either on groundwater or private tankers for potable water to meet daily requirements. We get water from a private hand pump installed in the fields, about a km from our houses. Daily our womenfolks bring the water in plastic drums and utensils on their heads. They have to cross the main road to reach there,” said Sunil, a villager.

He maintained that they had met Deputy Commissioner Shyam Lal Punia on Monday and requested him to resolve the issue.

Sandeep, another resident, said the water crisis prevailed in their locality for the past three weeks. “Those who can pay for water buy it from private tankers while others are forced to get it from the hand pump,” he added.

Vivek Kumar, Junior Engineer (Public Health), said his team on Tuesday visited Kablana village on getting complaints about non-availability of potable water.

“The water is supplied daily but more than 50 unauthorised connections have been found during the inspection of the main pipeline in the village. That’s why those houses located at the tail-end are not getting the supply. We have sought police force to remove these unauthorised connections,” said he, adding that the issue will be resolved soon after the removal of unauthorised connections.

The DC said Executive Engineer (Public Health) had been directed to look into the complaint of Kablana village. “He has been asked to submit his report by Friday,” he added.

Similar situation is being faced by residents in Gwalison village. “More than 50 houses in the village have not been getting government supply of potable water for the past two months. I am fetching water from other places on my motorbike,” claimed Amit, a Gwalison resident.

Jagjit, Junior Engineer (Public Health), denied any issue of potable water in the village but said rationing of water was done as the canal water was now supplied to the village in 25 days in place of 16 days.

“A tubewell has also been installed at the water works to supply water in case canal water is unavailable,” he added.

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