Fields flooded, but Rohtak residents face shortage of potable water

While Rohtak residents face scarcity of clean drinking water, the city continiues be inundated by rainwater.

Agricultural fields and other open spaces continue to be filled with rainwater for more than two months, with the arrangements made by the local administration to drain out excess water proving inadequate.

“We are facing an acute shortage of drinking water while water is still accumulated in the fields of our village as well as several neighbouring villages,” laments Ram Chander, a farmer of Bedwa village in Rohtak district.

This is endorsed by Ram Kunwar, Hardeva, Chaman and other villagers as they sit together on premises built in the fields.

Similar situation prevails in Farmana, Saiman, Bhaini Surjan and several other villages of the district.

“We depend on water supplied by tankers of private suppliers as sufficient water is not being supplied,” states Karamvir of Saiman village.

The scenario in Rohtak city is no better, with the residents complaining of insufficient and contaminated water being supplied.

“We have been facing an acute scarcity of drinking water for several days. Even the water being supplied for drinking is dirty and smelly,” says Dr Rajinder Aggarwal, a businessman based in the Model Town area of Rohtak city.

Ruchi, a resident of Sector 1 in Rohtak, also complains that contaminated water is often being supplied for drinking these days.

Meanwhile, Congress MLA from Rohtak Bharat Bhushan Batra has maintained that another waterworks needed to be constructed in Rohtak city to overcome the constant shortage of drinking water.

“The pipelines of drinking water and sewerage are nearly 50-year old and are required to be replaced at the earliest. A total budget of Rs 417 crore is required for a complete overhaul of the water supply system at Rohtak. I have taken up the matter with the top state authorities and written to the Chief Minister as well. I will again meet the Chief Minister and request him to get the needful done in this regard,” he stated.

Rohtak Deputy Commissioner Sachin Gupta has directed the officers concerned to expedite the drainage of accumulated water by enhancing the capacity of the mechanism installed to drain out excess water from agricultural fields. He asserted that all-out efforts were being made to improve water supply and it would show a marked improvement in the coming days.