Drinking water tank built in Gram Panchayat Veerpur police station. Awakening
Jagran correspondent, Moradabad. Under the Prime Minister's Public Welfare Program and later the Jal Jeevan Mission, the dream of providing clean drinking water to every village was shown, but in reality this dream is still unfulfilled. Despite spending crores of rupees in Gram Panchayat Veerpur police station of Mundhapande development block of the district, people have not been able to get water in their homes till date. Due to fear of pipeline burst, Pradhan closed the tank.
The population of the village is about five thousand. A water tank of 500 kiloliter capacity was approved here in the year 2012-13. The villagers were hopeful that soon tap water would reach every house. Electricity connection was made and pipeline was laid in the year 2015, but due to non-availability of funds the work remained incomplete. The contractor left the work midway and the project remained stalled for years.
The incomplete project was included in the year 2022
In the year 2022, this incomplete scheme was included in Jal Jeevan Mission. The work started again after receiving funds from the central government. A new contractor was appointed and the pipeline was re-laid in some parts. The cost also increased to more than Rs 2 crore. The villagers thought that now their wait would be over, but this hope was also soon shattered.
When water supply was started, weak pipes and poor joints were revealed. Due to not being able to bear the pressure of water, pipes burst at many places. Leakage started happening at many places. Instead of reaching the houses, the water started flowing on the roads, due to which the roads started getting damaged. The situation has become such that even after running water for an hour, waterlogging occurs at many places in the village.
The tank was ready in 2023
Seeing the situation worsening, village head Mohammad Akram stopped the supply. He says that due to continuous leakage the roads had started breaking down. Under compulsion, the operator was instructed not to run water. He complained to the authorities several times, but no concrete action has been taken till now.
Operator Shadab told that the tank was completely ready in the year 2023. When the water was run for the first time, the pipeline burst at more than 15 places. Due to lack of ability to withstand pressure, it is not possible to get repairs done daily. About 600 connections are shown in the papers in the village, but till date regular water has not reached any house.
Depend on hand pump and tanker
Mustaq Ali says that despite having taps and connections, he has to depend on hand pumps and tankers. Shamim Bano tells that every morning one has to go far to fill water. Rafiq Ahmed alleges that shoddy work was done with the connivance of contractors and officials. There is no hearing even after complaining.
Despite having road and electricity facilities in this village situated near Moradabad-Thakurdwara road, basic needs like drinking water are not being met. Villagers say that when regular water can be available in cities, then why are villages being deprived of it. Questions are being raised on the role of departmental officers and contractors in the entire matter.
Allegation- Complete work shown on papers
How the weak pipes were installed, why the quality was not checked and how the payment was made, it is not yet clear. The villagers allege that the work was shown as complete on paper without any on-site investigation. The villagers complained several times to the Jal Nigam, Block Office and District Administration, but neither investigation was done nor action was taken against those responsible.
The result is that despite crores of rupees being spent, the scheme has remained a showpiece. The villagers demand that technical investigation of the entire pipeline should be conducted, substandard material should be replaced and action should be taken against the guilty contractors and officials. If there is no solution soon, I will complain again. Today the situation is such that people of Veerpur police station open the tap, but instead of water only air comes out. Despite plans worth crores, the village is still thirsty and the dream of water in every house remains unfulfilled.
Two companies are working in the district under Jal Jeevan Mission. Officials of both the companies have been called several times and asked to complete the work. Work has stopped at some places due to non-availability of funds. We will try to start the work soon after receiving the funds.
- Mrinali Avinash Joshi, Chief Development Officer, Moradabad
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