Residents protest as water shortage strikes villages in Chandigarh
The villagers gathered on the Chandigarh railway road to hold protest over water crisis on Sunday
In Short
- The villagers took to the streets protesting the shortage of water on Sunday
- The protesting villagers also broke earthen pots on the road to lodge their protest
- We regularly pay the water bills but still there is no water, a villager said
Residents of 13 villages in Chandigarh on Sunday took to the streets protesting the shortage of water for the past few months. The villagers gathered on the Chandigarh railway road. The 13 villages which had been merged with the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation in January are the worst affected by the water crisis.
After slipping from the third position to 20 in the Swachch Survekshan rankings, Chandigarh may also lose the smart city status as the water crisis in the city has peaked this summer.
The protesting villagers also broke earthen pots on the road to lodge their protest.
Gurpreet Singh, a former village sarpanch said, "They merged our panchayat with the municipal corporation which cannot fulfil our water demand. We were ignored when we approached the authorities. Earlier, as water charge, they used to charge us Rs 310. Now, they are asking for a three-time hike for the same."
"We regularly pay the water bills but still there is no water," he added.
India Today TV spoke to a number of women who were in tears as water has not been supplied in many areas for the past two months. The protesting women also raised the hygienic issue in the area saying because of the scarcity of water their children had not had a bath for some time.
"Where should we go when water is the basic human right," said Rama, another villager, asking questions about the role of the authority.
Jasbir Kaur of Dadwa village, said, "We have to buy water from private water suppliers. We remained silent during the elections as they [BJP] assured we will not face any problem. Now, there is nobody to take care of us."
Chandigarh Mayor Rajesh Kalia told to India Today TV that the corporation is thinking about hiring additional water tankers to meet the demand.
"Yes, there are water problems in some areas. We are working on it. Additional water tankers will be hired to temporarily solve the problem. The main water supply line is struck due to a dispute between the railway authorities and GAMADA [Greater Mohali Area Development Authority]. We have sought the intervention of the Governor," the mayor said.