Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 5: Former Minister and senior Congress leader, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma today met Sham Lal Choudhary, Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control and presented a memorandum apprising him of the current state of water crisis being faced by people of Billawar constituency and adjoining areas of district Kathua.
Dr Sharma informed the Minister that the inhabitants of Billawar constituency are facing acute shortage of drinking water in this dry spell of Summer.
He said that Billawar constituency is hilly and kandi belt area which receives water through seasonal rainfall and underground water. Due to seasonal variation and dry Summer the inhabitants are facing the water shortage.
He pointed that in the past too, such acute shortage situations had occurred and then timely intervention of the PHE Department had defused the same effectively.
He said almost whole constituency is currently facing acute shortage of water however the areas including Bhaddu, Dharmakote, Morheen, Ward No 3 and 4 in Municipal Committee Billawar, Reya Tandi, Baktpur, Kohag Lahri and Nojot, Dher, Kandharnu, Uchapind. Tharakalwal, Bhed Dollan, Rajwalta, Mallad, Dhanjastra, Baggan,Mela Dinga Amb Panchayat, Kati Dhod Ladoli, Mangllor, Badholi, Pargoli & Sunkhal and same problem is in adjoining constituencies of district Kathua need immediate attention.
In the memorandum submitted to Minister by the Congress leader he demanded channelizing of periodic supply of drinking water through PHE water tanks to the areas facing water crisis on routine basis, regular supply of tap water to all the areas of Billawar constituency, immediate repair of hundreds of hand pumps lying non functional since years, educating people regarding harvesting rain water and water management plans, repair of motors/storage tanks/ supply lines to curb any loss of water.
Dr Sharma raised salary issue of daily wagers who are unpaid since last 45 months. He said that it is not possible to work without salary for so long and their salaries be released at the earliest. He said that to end the water crisis of the region steps at war footing basis should be taken.
He further cautioned that if left unheard the time is not far when people will be fed up of the current water crisis and start coming on roads and create law and order problem.
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