Solar energy tank installed at a cost of lakhs in Hathwani succumbed to the system, thirsty passersby

Ajit Singh / Rajesh Tiwari (Bureau Report)

Sonbhadra,/Uttar Pradesh-

The district of the state which stands second in the state for its minerals and huge revenue, is today crying for its basic needs. A serious picture exposing the claims of development has emerged from Hathwani located in Hathinala area of ​​the district, where big questions are being raised on the proper utilization of government funds.

The solar powered water tank located on the Duddhi-Windhamganj road, behind the Hanuman temple in Hathwani, has been proving to be a white elephant for the past several months. According to the information, the government had constructed this tank at a cost of about Rs 1 lakh for the convenience of the public. See the irony that this tank, built just 3 years ago, has died today due to lack of maintenance. Local residents are considering this as a living proof of blatant wastage of public tax money and administrative negligence.

This area is extremely sensitive and important geologically. This route connects Uttar Pradesh to the borders of Jharkhand and Bihar. Hundreds of passengers alight at Hathinala bus stand every day. After the scorching sun and the fatigue of the long journey, when travelers move towards this tank in the hope of water, they find only a dry tap and disappointment. The anger of the villagers and shopkeepers of the area is at its peak against the local village head Anand Yadav.

Villagers say that written and oral information about the problem was given several times, but there was no solution. Local shopkeepers even offered to bear the cost of repairs, yet the head administration showed no interest. Local people are terming Pradhan’s silence as his indifference and dictatorial attitude towards development.

The post of Pradhan is meant to serve the public, but here ignoring the problems of the public has become the policy. The tank built at a cost of lakhs seems to be falling prey to corruption today. Local residents and intellectuals believe that on one hand, the government is spending crores of rupees on campaigns like Tap in Every House and Jal Jeevan Mission, while on the other hand, conditions like Hathwani at the ground level are tarnishing the credibility of the government.

Government investment worth lakhs of rupees becoming worthless within 3 years directly points to financial irregularities and administrative failure. The residents of Hathwani have now demanded a high-level inquiry into the matter from District Magistrate (DM) Sonbhadra and the district administration. The villagers have an obvious question: Is the government property just to show development on paper? The demand of the area is that this water tank should be repaired with immediate effect so that the pedestrians and shopkeepers can get relief from this humanitarian crisis.