‘No water, no votes’: Poll plan of villagers in Uttarakhand district in 2019 | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

‘No water, no votes’: Poll plan of villagers in Uttarakhand district in 2019

Hindustan Times, Uttarakhand | ByHT Correspondent
Dec 30, 2018 09:18 AM IST

The villagers from Kot block held a protest outside the district magistrate’s office on Friday, demanding a drinking water scheme.

People from about 40 villages in Uttarakhand’s Pauri Garhwal district have threatened to boycott the 2019 Lok Sabha elections if water crisis in their area is not solved.

Villagers protested outside the district collector(ht photo)
Villagers protested outside the district collector(ht photo)

The villagers from Kot block held a protest outside the district magistrate’s office on Friday, demanding a drinking water scheme.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

“The villagers want a separate drinking water scheme for their area. They are now provided water under Ramkund drinking water scheme but that is not sufficient to meet needs of all the villages,” said Pauri Garhwal district magistrate Sushil Kumar. “The administration has sent a draft of the new scheme to the state government in November after changes in the initial draft; we are waiting for funds to be cleared.”

Shipal Singh Chauhan, a villager who participated in the protest, said their area has not been getting drinking water for months. “We want work on Ramkund drinking water system to start at the earliest,” he said.

“We met the district administration officials and they have assured us that our problems will be solved. But we are being given such false promises for a long time now. If our demand is not met, we might boycott the Lok Sabha elections.”

Minister for drinking water and sanitation Prakash Pant said poll boycott threat was only a way to pressure the government.

“We are working on the revised scheme as the initial draft was not as per the permitted per capita cost. The villagers are getting water even now, but there has been reduction in inflow of water from the source,” Pant said. “The project and the work will be finished by March 2019.”

As per the National Rural Drinking Water Programme, the per capita cost for such projects should be between 20,000 and 22,000.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal Arrest Live Updates, Bihar Board 12th Result Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Monday, March 25, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On