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| 74 years after Independence, Kandi belts of Samba, Kathua without potable water | | Residents mock Govt’s claim to provide drinking water to all by Sept 2020 | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, June 18: Notwithstanding claims of the authorities, drinking water is still a luxury in Kandi belts of Jammu, Samba, Kathua and Udhampur districts. In many areas, helpless people are forced to fetch water from the sources where animals also drink water.
Just two-day ago, newly appointed Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta has directed the Department to provide all schools and Anganwadi centers with functional water connections within a month, besides completing phases II & III of Jal Jeevan Mission by September 30, 2022.
Although directions have been given to provide water, ground reality is entirely different from the situation present in the meetings usually convened in air-conditioned rooms.
People battling for a bucket of clear water in Kandi belts reflect the real picture on the ground where all water supply schemes are functional ‘only on papers’.
Since 1947, schemes have been formulated to ensure supply of drinking water but in Kandi areas, these schemes appear to be implemented on official documents only.
As reported earlier, Karadki village of Samba district is a glaring example of government schemes as inhabitants of this village are forced to drinking contaminated water.
This village falls under Suradha Panchayat of Ghagwal block of Samba district. Even after passing over 74 years after Independence, authorities failed to lay water supply pipes in many Kandi villages, so people have reason to raise doubt over claims of the government to provide drinking water to all residents by September 2022.
Inhabitants of many villages forced to drink contaminated water. Throughout the day, women and children of the village can be seen moving to get water from a naturally formed pond in the middle of the hills, two kilometers away from the village.
There are two ponds in Karadki village. In the summer of May-June, the water of one of the ponds has dried up, while the water is left in the middle of the other pond.
The same is the situation in the Kandi belts of Kathua where inhabitants of over 64 Panchayats are struggling to get drinking water. Interestingly a water supply scheme was implemented in the area after spending a whooping amount. |
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