Influential peoples make public hand pumps their personal properties, Dept shuns responsibility
TOSEEF R GANAI
Poonch, Jan 16: Some influential and politically backed peoples have encroached upon the public water hand pumps for their personal use in many areas of district Poonch and concerned department has turned deaf ears to this violatios.They have illegally occupied the water hand pumps, installed in different areas of City in Poonch district for public by the Jal Shakti Department under Government schemes.
Reports said there are dozens of water hand-pumps in Haveli which were installed by the Government under a schemes to provide water to the peoples but there are countless hand- pumps which are being used by few people for their personal gain by installing motors and connections on them, denying general public of the benefit.
Sources said that a public water hand pump was installed by the Jal Shakti Department under the Government scheme in Public park Purani Poonch, near Gurudwara sahib but some people misused it, and illegally put a mortar and connection on it for their homes. The connection was taken away while other families are worried over the water shortage in the locality.
Sources told Jammu Jotting that another examples are Khakha Nawan Road Near Baba Ramdev Shop and once is in khalsa chowk has been witnessed in city where majority of Public Water Hand Pumps have been captured by the peoples who have taken connection by installing pipes and electric motors and diverted them to their houses, particularly who have some political background due to which no one try to question on this gross misuse of public property for personal use.
The concerned Ground Water Department has been witnessing this illegal encroachment by the peoples due to which the common peoples living in the area have been deprived this facility
Locals of the area have also accused the Jal Shakti Department officials of the connivance in the matter. They said that with the connivance of the employees of the department, some vicious peoples have opened the handle of public hand pumps and put a motor to supply water to their homes. Peoples have sought strict action against the accused and also sought intervention of DC Poonch and Chief Engineer Jal Shakti Department & concerned authorities to redress the issue and remove the illegal connection so that water supply is not hampered in the area.
