Illegal water plants running in Khoda. Awakening
Jagran correspondent, Sahibabad (Ghaziabad). Water businessmen in Ghaziabad have capitalized on the problem of water shortage in Khoda as an opportunity in the disaster. Due to lack of water, business is going on fast in Khoda.
The operators are harvesting silver by setting up illegal plants and this is putting a burden on people's pockets. Water mafia has become active in Khoda in recent times. Organizations agitating for water estimate that around 700 to 800 bottles of water are supplied in the area every day. Apart from Khoda, vehicles also come from Indirapuram to supply water.
A population of 12 lakh in 34 wards of Khoda is facing acute shortage of drinking water. A picture of finding opportunities in disaster can be seen here. In the wards where the groundwater level is 300 to 400 feet, three water plants each are running. People also come here to fill 20 liter water bottles and it is also supplied to most of the area.
About 16 to 17 illegal water plants are running in Khoda, which are supplied to the markets of the affected areas including Maitrika Vihar, Kalu Cement Area, Hayatnagar, Prem Vihar, Indra Vihar, Popular Vihar, Himalaya Enclave. Plant operators charge Rs 10 for filling water at the plant and Rs 20 to 25 for delivering it to homes and shops. We are doing a business of Rs 4 to 5 lakh per month.
Due to negligence of the government system, people are craving for water and plant operators and water mafia are extracting money from the business. Despite this, the people of Khoda are not getting pure and quality drinking water.
Water samples are not tested
No action is taken against the plant operators even at the health department or administrative level. People allege that the plants running without permission are not only exploiting groundwater, but people's health is also being played with.
Aftab Ali, founder member of Azad Samaj Party, who is agitating for water in the area, said that it is necessary to get the water samples tested. So that the quality of water can be checked and people can get information about the water being used.
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For drinking water one has to depend on bottled water only. Due to this, the household budget also deteriorates every month. There is a need to solve the water problem. - Sonali Singh, local resident
Illegally running water plants should be investigated. There is no water in the area and on top of that, the people running the plants are making the land dry. - Naveen Sharma, local resident
A large population is dependent on water plants. This not only puts a burden on people's pockets but they also have to suffer losses due to lack of quality water. -Munna Lal, local resident
By closing the water plant, the municipality should improve the drinking water supply at its own level, this will also reduce the expenses of the people. - Raghav Jha, local resident