Bhiwani residents up in arms over water, sewerage problems

Deepender Deswal

Bhiwani, July 15

Upset with the “negligent and indifferent attitude” of the district administration, residents of Wards 13, 14, 16 and 25 of Bhiwani town today staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office at the Bhiwani Mini-Secretariat.

The protesters alleged that their localities were plagued by various problems and they were being deprived of basic facilities.

WILL RESORT TO ROAD BLOCKADE

We have made it clear that the residents will be forced to resort to a road blockade to highlight our plight if the administration continues to ignore our demands. — Akash Bose, a protester

According to the protesters, they had raised their grievances with the departments concerned several times, but to no avail. “We are tired of paying visits to government offices. No one is listening to our problems,” a protester said.

Raising slogans against the district administration and the state government, residents of the four wards reached the Deputy Commissioner’s office this morning.

Municipal Council Member (Ward 25) Vinod Prajapati said potable water supply in the ward had been erratic and inadequate for the last six months. The water being supplied was contaminated and unfit for consumption, he added.

“The residents have been facing an acute problem of water shortage. The sewerage system of the town is also ineffective and has resulted in water from sewerage pipelines flowing onto the streets,” Prajapati said.

The threat of a mishap due to low-hanging wires loomed over the area residents, he added. Kanta Devi, an elderly woman from Ward 15, said she had to travel far from her house to fetch water whenever the ward experienced shortage of water.

“We have, time and again, taken up the issue with the municipal councillor and the officials concerned, but the problem still persists,” she added.

Saroj Rani, one of the protesters and a resident of Ward 14, claimed that the Public Health Engineering Department was supplying contaminated water to the area.

This could lead to the spread of various diseases in the ward, she said.

Suresh Saini, a social worker from Ward 13, said contaminated drinking water had been supplied to his ward for the last two months.

After staging the demonstration, the protesters handed over a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Mandeep Kaur, demanding solutions to their problems pertaining to electricity, water and sewerage systems.

The DC assured the protesters of prompt action over their demands.

“We have made it clear that the residents will be forced to resort to a road blockade to highlight our plight if the administration continues to ignore our demands,” said Akash Bose, a protester.