RAJESH TANDON
Early Times Report
Poonch, Mar 22: Although the entire country celebrated ‘World Water Day’ today but there are still several areas which are without drinking water supply in Poonch district, putting people in rural areas in grave distress.
The Jal Shakti (PHE) Department Poonch celebrated the day with huge fanfare but it seems that they are least bothered to address the public issues of rural areas in the district. The local residents alleged that though Prime Minister Narender Modi has been delivering speeches on providing water in far off areas, but the concerned department has turned deaf ears to the already existing problems. “The main supply pipelines have developed leakages across the Poonch district, which ultimately leads to wastage of precious water and depriving the people of this facility. There are many areas where leakage problems are very old but never repaired despite complaints to the concerned officials,” said Rasheeda Bi, an elderly woman who goes to the river to fetch water for her daily needs.
The most affected areas including Mendhar, Mandi etc where local residents held several protest demonstrations from time to time against the department for not addressing their problems due to which people are forced to drink contaminated water, they alleged further adding that even water supply has not been provided in far off areas. |
