RESIDENTS  DESPERATE FOR WATER

RESIDENTS  DESPERATE FOR WATER

12-OCT-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

SASARAM--------------------------The drinking water crisis is intensifying in the Municipal Council area. Dozens of hand pumps installed by the PHED department in every ward prior to the summer season have failed within just a few months. Locals allege that the installation was merely a token exercise and the entire project fell prey to corruption.

Residents stated that the borewells were drilled to depths below the required standards and substandard materials were used. Consequently, most hand pumps are either non-functional or yielding no water. They are failing due to a lack of maintenance and repair. The shortage is particularly acute for passersby who frequent the area; with no other water source available, they wander in search of water when thirsty. Residents are forced to fetch water from far-off places.

Women in the neighborhood reported having to make repeated trips to the hand pumps from morning till evening without success. In several wards, the 'Nal-Jal' (tap water) scheme is also stalled.

People have demanded that the district administration and the Municipal Council inspect and immediately repair all hand pumps and take strict action against the officials and contractors involved in this gross negligence and corruption.