Doda – Hambal village facing shortage of drinking water

Jitendra Singh’s adopted Hambal village facing shortage of drinking water

Doda, December 30: Even after being re-voted to the Lok Sabha, union minister Jitendra Singh seems to have abandoned his adopted village Hambal of Doda district as people are facing a severe shortage of drinking water.

People have to travel kilometres to fetch the water for domestic use.

As it is becoming difficult every passing day due to harsh winter, people of this village today held a peaceful protest demonstration in Doda town and sought attention of union minster and administration towards the burning demand of water shortage.

“We are facing severe shortage of drinking water for last six months and authorities are not taking cognizance of our issue despite the fact that we have approached concerned official several times,” said Laxmi Devi, Sarpanch of Hambal-A Panchayat.

This village was adopted by union MoS in PMO, Jitendra Singh during his previous term as MP from the region but nothing has been done to improve the living condition of the people.

“After Jitendra Singh adopted this village we were hopeful that development will reach to the doorsteps of people. He is taking care of entire country but in his own native village, condition is going bad to worse. We don’t have drinking water for last six months and one can understand how difficult it is,” said Suresh Manhas, ex-Sarpanch of Hambal.

Scores of people from this village today gathered in the town and held the protest demonstration. With banners in hand and slogans seeking attention of Jitendra Singh, people demanded immediate action to restore the pipeline which was damaged in past six months.

People said that on August 31, 2018 work on Hambal-Dedni link road was started which damaged the existing pipeline.

Authorities said that they have asked R&B department to restore the line but as work on road is in progress, it may damage the pipeline again.

“We had asked the contractor to restore the line and he laid a small pipe but people said that water is not enough to meet the need. Now, I have allotted 900 metres pipe to the authorities today and we are hopeful that more water will be pushed to meet the need,” said Fayaz Mehta, Assistant Executive Engineer PHE Division Doda told The Tribune.