Excelsior Correspondent
Bhadarwah, Nov 8: Irked over the alleged irresponsible, pathetic and casual attitude of PHE authorities who failed to restore potable water supply to 4 villages and 4 schools of Athkhar since last 3 months, the people held a protest and blocked Bhadarwah-Atkhar road at Sartingal for several hours.
Four-hundred households of Sartingal, Monda, Badhrote and Garh villages are reeling under severe water crisis since last three months, due to the pathetic attitude of PHE authorities who have failed to restore the piped water supply to these villages after the Atkhar gravity line got blocked in August.
To press their demand of restoration of this basic need, large number of villagers today gathered at ever busy Sartingal Chowk and held a protest, by raising slogans against PHE Department and local administration who according to them failed to restore water supply despite repeated requests and representations submitted to them.
The protesters also blocked the ever busy Sartingal road for several hours by burning tyres while demanding immediate restoration of water supply and stern action against the erring officials of PHE Department.
“We have been running from pillar to post since last 3 months to get water supply restored in our area, but all our pleas seem to have fallen on deaf ears of concerned authorities. This casual approach of both PHE Department and civil administration towards poor villagers forced us to come on the streets”, said Irshad Ahmed Lawai, President Land Owners Association Atkhar.
“Last month we held a similar protest and at that time we were assured by the AEE PHE Department that piped water supply will be restored within one week, but after several days when we approached the same officer, he refused to listen to us”, Lawai alleged.
Land Owners Association threatened that if administration fails to restore water supply to these villages, then they will start mass agitation at Seri Bazaar Bhadarwah and for any untoward incident, the Government and District Administration will be resposbile.
Later, Naib Tehsildar Atkhar Usman Ahmed along with Junior Engineer (JE) of PHE Department reached the spot and requested the villagers to suspend the protest conveying that SDM Bhadarwah has assured that their demand regarding restoration of piped water will be met within one week.
On this assurance, the villagers called off their protest and traffic movement was restored.
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