Excelsior Correspondent
MENDHAR, June 15: The people from Topa (Ward No 1) and adjoining area of Mendhar are extremely affected due to the neglect of the Public Health Engineering/ Jal Shakti Department in the border area of Mendhar Sub Division of Poonch district.
Residents of the area said that 10 years ago, a water tank was constructed by the PHE Department under a `PHE Scheme’, claiming that population of over 400 family souls will be provided water, which will remove the sufferings of the people, but the reality on the ground is something else.
The water tank was constructed but till date, the supply of water could not be made available to the public, due to sheer negligence of PHE Division, Poonch. The villagers accused the PHE Department officials of misusing the funds of the Govt Scheme of this border area. They alleged that public of the area has been deprived of basic facility. They demanded investigation into the matter and action against the concerned people involved.
A local Mohammad Latif said that it has been ten years since the tank was built, no one has come here from the department to examine or monitor the work. “We went to both the former MLAs regarding this problem but no one heard. There are about 400 families who face water problem daily.
Another local Mohammad Mushtaq said he has taken up the issue repeatedly with the PHE Department at Mendhar and Poonch but no proper response has been received from the concerned officials. He said locals are following the order of the Government, as corona virus epidemic is going on. But water supply is the essential component and public can not live without it.
The villagers urged upon the Lt Governor of the Union Territory of J&K to hold high level probe and take action against the culprits.
When contacted to AEE PHE Mendhar Sudhir Sharma said the information in this regard has been sought from JE concerned. He said as per JE the rising main has been destroyed by installing a JCB machine while constructing the road and Sarpanch of the area as well as the the public was intimated and JE told them to assist the department in welding of the pipes and other allied works so that the line can be restored. But there is no response from the Sarpanch or others. The JE has been directed to contact the Sarpanch of area for early restoration of rising main.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
