Councillor S. Mohinder Singh Lashes Out at PHE Xen Vishal Thapa and JE Ankush Sharma; Demands Urgent Action from DC Poonch as Residents Suffer Amid Official Negligence
- Tube well near Science School meant to supply water to over 300 households in Ward No. 8 and Ward No. 10 remains non-functional for months.
- PHE Xen Vishal Thapa blames transformer faults and mechanical delays, while JE Ankush Sharma’s careless remarks and lack of urgency spark public outrage.
- Councillor S. Mohinder Singh questions the silence of the district administration and the fate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan “Har Ghar Bijli, Har Ghar Paani.”
Harpreet Singh
Poonch, July 29, 2025: The residents of Poonch’s Ward No. 8 and Ward No. 10 are reeling under an unprecedented water crisis, their days marked by dry taps, empty buckets, and official indifference. What was once promised as a reliable supply project under the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department has turned into a cruel joke, leaving more than 300 households without water for months.
The problem centres around a tube well-constructed near the Science School in Poonch city — a project meant to solve chronic water shortages in the twin wards. Despite being completed long ago and fitted with a dedicated transformer, the tube well has not been made operational even after repeated public complaints.
Municipal Councillor and noted social activist S. Mohinder Singh has taken the lead in questioning the PHE authorities’ lack of seriousness. Speaking to Jammu Jottings, he expressed deep frustration over the continued inaction.
“If lakhs of rupees have already been spent on a project that remains idle for months, it is nothing less than criminal negligence,” Singh said. “The people of Ward No. 8 and Ward No. 10 are running from pillar to post for something as basic as water. What happened to the Prime Minister’s slogan ‘Har Ghar Bijli, Har Ghar Paani’? Where is the accountability?”
Singh further demanded that Deputy Commissioner Poonch personally intervene to end what he described as “a shameful failure of local governance.” He also accused JE Ankush Sharma of displaying a non-serious and arrogant attitude toward citizens’ grievances. “Officials like Sharma treat people’s suffering as a routine inconvenience. His dismissive behaviour is unacceptable,” Singh asserted.
When Jammu Jottings reached out to PHE Executive Engineer (Xen) Vishal Thapa, he acknowledged that the tube well had not been made operational due to a fault in the transformer.
“The transformer was sent for repairs after a fault was detected. It’s currently under service at the workshop. We hope to have it back by tomorrow evening, or the day after, and once it’s reinstalled, the bore will become functional,” Thapa said.
However, his explanation left many unanswered questions. Residents were quick to point out the technical inconsistency in Thapa’s claim — how could the transformer “burn out” if the system was never switched on? Locals also allege that the department has been using excuses to delay the project’s activation, citing mechanical issues or manpower shortages at every stage.
Adding fuel to the fire, JE Ankush Sharma, when contacted by Jammu Jottings, offered vague and contradictory statements. He downplayed the situation by suggesting that water was available from “alternate sources” and that the affected wards were not solely dependent on the new bore well. His tone was casual and indifferent — a response that has infuriated the residents even further.
A local resident from Ward No. 10 said, “JE Ankush Sharma speaks as if giving water to citizens is an optional task. He has not even bothered to inspect the situation himself. We are surviving on tanker water, and that too irregularly.”
The failure of the PHE Department to operationalize the bore well has created widespread discontent. The situation is turning into a potential flashpoint, with community leaders warning of protests if the issue is not resolved immediately. Councillor Mohinder Singh warned that the people’s patience is wearing thin. “If the administration continues to ignore our pleas, we will have no choice but to hit the streets,” he said.
Singh also questioned the role of the Deputy Commissioner Poonch, asking why the grievances of two major wards have not been addressed despite repeated written complaints and follow-ups. “The DC’s silence is equally disappointing. The administration cannot wash its hands of responsibility while people are deprived of a basic necessity,” he remarked.
As the crisis drags on, the slogan “Har Ghar Paani” rings hollow in Poonch’s parched households. The residents now await action, not assurances. Whether the repaired transformer will finally bring relief or become another unfulfilled promise remains to be seen — but for now, Poonch’s thirst tells a grim story of bureaucratic negligence and misplaced priorities.
