Samba, May 31: Apni Party Provincial President, Jammu and former minister, S Manjit Singh has expressed concern over the “deepening crisis” of drinking water shortage in the Kandi belt, saying the Jal Shakti Department has failed to ensure supply of the water amid the constant soaring of the temperature.
As per a press release, Manjit Singh conducted an extensive tour of the Kandi areas in Parmandal and met the villagers in various areas to know about their condition in these summers when the temperature has crossed 44 Degree Celsius.
“During the visit, he expressed his shock over learning the ground reality of the inability of the authorities to provide drinking water to the affected villages where the people have to purchase the drinking water through private tankers,” the party statement said, adding, “The government has not been able to supply water through the Jal Shakti tankers and tap water system. The people are suffering because of the heat wave, and it appears, the system of Jal Shakti Department has collapsed badly.”
The Apni Party leader said the authorities should have constituted teams to assess the situation and send them to the ground. “But no one is concerned about the poor villagers who have been compelled to purchase their water for drinking water,” he said, adding that it becomes a moral duty of the authorities to arrange drinking water and supply it through the department’s own tankers.
Meanwhile, Singh said that the electricity supply has disrupted the water supply system. Unscheduled electricity cuts have hampered the normal life of the people, and the JPDCL appears to be incompetent, he said.
“The people are suffering in Jammu’s Kandi Belt due to the constant long unscheduled power cuts and the government should streamline the system to give some relief to the people,” Manjit added.
