Every house tap scheme flops in fluorosis affected areas, villagers protest vigorously

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Con/ Sonbhadra –

Under the Jal Jeevan Mission Harra Kadra Gram Group Drinking Water Scheme under the newly created development block of the district, every household tap scheme is proving to be successful on the ground. It is noteworthy that in many gram panchayats the work of tap connection has not been completed, only water supply has been done. Due to which the villagers demonstrated several times but did not get any success.

Let us tell you that the executing agency is Vishnu Prakash R Punglia Ltd. After the news was published, the work of covering pipes on the roadside and repairing tap connections was started but could not be completed. The complainants allege that the depth and quality of work of DI pipe line, HDP, MDPE pipe line can be estimated by looking at each place. According to the information received, connections were given on the basis of Aadhaar card, but not a single drop of water came from the taps for years whereas in the fluorosis affected Kachnarwa and Kudwa areas, every house tap scheme is proving to be a curse instead of a boon for the people.

Let us tell you that in Tola Asanabandh Link Road Ward No. 3 of Kachnarwa, the water supply has increased over the years but till date water supply has not been done nor has the problem been resolved. Due to which the villagers also complained on the CM helpline, but after months, without completing the work, the concerned department posted its investigation report and now the Chief Minister portal has become a joke. Even though people have staged rural demonstrations many times from time to time for water, the department and the organization still do not pay heed to it.

Villagers say that water is not being supplied to the fluorosis affected areas for almost years, which is very painful for the poor tribals, even people do not have tap connections to their homes. In this sequence, senior social workers Bihari Prasad Yadav and Jawahir Oraon allege that even today people in the area are forced to drink contaminated water from rivers, drains and Chuhar. Due to which people are dying day by day due to fluorosis which is no less than a curse for the people.

He further said that such corrupt institutions should be immediately blacklisted so that the image of the government is not tarnished and the villagers can get regular drinking water supply. Let us tell you that till now most of the people do not even have tap connection in their houses and even after complaining, the result remains the same. According to the information received, recently with the help of the employees of Kumbhakarni’s Nidra Jaga Sanstha, the 2500 kV A transformer installed in Kachnarwa WTP was lifted and taken elsewhere, which the concerned department is saying is under capacity, which is beyond the understanding of the local people.

The villagers allege that the water supply in the fluorosis affected areas has been stalled for years and the concerned organization is playing with the health of the poor, which is not fair. Local experts say that earlier the water supply was being supplied by the said organization by providing water on the road side, whereas water did not reach the link road side of the villages.

Similarly, Chanchi Khurd, Nakatwar, Mishri, Kharondhi, Rorwa, Kishunpurwa, Lalkidamar, Kachnarwa, Asanabandh, Badap, Rohinwadam, Naroiyadamar, Madhuri, Bagesoti, Singa, Kudwa’s Dhaurwadam, Shivakhadi, Deelwaha, Gobardaha, Piparkhad, In many villages including Bichmarwa, Dhangardiha, Kachnarwa main market, Asanabandh Ward-3, Badap, Bagesoti, Singa, Dubwa, Dhaurvadamar, Semervadamar, Gobardaha, Dealwaha, Shivakhadi, Dhichorwa, Bichmarwa, Kewal, Doma, Mishri, Bahuara, there is no water supply in every house under the tap scheme. A living example of which is Badap village adjacent to WTP, where the complete connection has not been made till date, whereas in Asna Dam Ward-3, water supply has been stalled for years.

The biggest question is that due to the indifference and arbitrary working system of the executive body related to Namami Gange Jal Jeevan Mission, the most ambitious scheme of the Government of India and the Prime Minister along with the Chief Minister, not a single drop of water is being delivered to the people, rather their scheme is being shown as a failure, which is extremely shameful.

District President of Gram Pradhan Sangh, Lakshmi Kumar Jaiswal alleges that due to the lax attitude of the department, the tank built at a cost of crores of rupees of Jal Jeevan Mission has become just a show piece and the money has been misappropriated in the construction work, ignoring the standards. While the concerned department was repeatedly informed by writing letters, but due to departmental indifference, the matter of investigation turned out to be a mere case.

In the sequence of which, on Monday, under the leadership of social worker Somaru Yadav, the villagers in Kudwa raised slogans of Murdabad against the Jal Nigam and the related institution and demanded blacklisting of the institution. In the sequence of which, social worker Ganga Prasad said that water supply is not being provided by the concerned organization for years mainly in Gram Panchayat Kachnarwa, Kudwa, an area affected by fluorosis.

Whereas people have lost their lives by drinking fluoride laden water and many people are lying on the cots and there is no one to take care of them, whereas the priority of the government was to provide water supply to every house for the poor under the Har Ghar Tap Yojana, but due to the indifference of the officials of the concerned department, the Har Ghar Tap Yojana is proving to be ineffective, for which it is absolutely necessary to conduct a high level investigation.

He demanded regular water supply and said that water is not being supplied to Tola Asanabandh, Ward 3 and Kachnarwa main market of Gram Panchayat Kachnarwa for years and false assurances are being given by the concerned organization for years. Similarly, water is not being supplied to Tola Singa of Bagesoti for four years and water is not being supplied in the entire Gram Panchayat, which is no less than a challenge for the local people. In the protest, mainly Ramdev, Kamla Devi, Rameshwar, Sunil, Mahavir, Kanhai

etc. were included. In this sequence, the local people have drawn the attention of the Chief Minister and District Magistrate of the state and demanded supply of pure drinking water and strict action against the concerned executing agency.

In this regard, the project manager of the organization Sudarshan Vind said that there is not enough water available at the intake well (source). The proposal has been put in SWSF, till the approval is not received from there, it is difficult to say anything and in response to the question of taking the transformer to another place, he said that it has been removed due to under rating and another transformer will be installed soon. An attempt was made to contact Executive Engineer (Jal Nigam) Arun Singh on cell phone but could not be contacted. Now it will be interesting to see whether people will be able to get water in the scorching summer season or whether this scheme will fall victim to the corruption of the concerned officials and the implementing organization.