Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 4: BJP senior leader and MLA Jammu West, Arvind Gupta, today launched a strong attack on the NC Government for its failure to provide relief to the people of Jammu city, particularly in several wards that continue to face acute drinking water shortages.
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BJP treasurer, Prabhat Jamwal, spokesperson Rajni Sethi, media in charge Dr. Pardeep Mahotra, OBC Morcha president, Brahamjyot, senior leader Bawa Sharma, Mandal president. Kushant Dafara, and other party leaders also accompanied Arvind Gupta, while addressing a press conference at the J&K BJP headquarters, Trikuta Nagar, here, today.
Arvind Gupta highlighted that Jammu has been among the worst sufferers of the recent climatic tragedy triggered by incessant rains, cloudbursts and flash floods, which even claimed precious lives. He said that people in several city constituencies, particularly Jammu West, have been badly affected. Many families, including those who were already struggling to make ends meet, have lost all their belongings in the floods and are facing untold hardships.
On the critical issue of drinking water, the MLA said that nearly two lakh people of Jammu are directly hit by the crisis after the Sheetali water supply system was severely damaged. While departmental officials had promised restoration in the initial meetings, the supply has not been resumed even after more than 10 days. “Certain wards are still without access to drinking water, while many localities remain clogged with filthy water. Immediate dewatering of these areas, including water supply system points, is urgently required,” he demanded.
Arvind Gupta also accepted moral responsibility, admitting that he could not ensure timely water supply to all the residents of his constituency. He noted that although the PHE Department attempted to supply water through tankers, the measure remained only experimental and lacked any concrete policy or backup plan for complete restoration.
Expressing confidence in Central support, he said that the Union Home Minister has assured financial augmentation to restore essential services and compensate losses. Further, he mentioned that all BJP public representatives have contributed funds for immediate relief, each BJP MLA contributing Rs 1 crore and each BJP MP Rs 2.5 crore, together amounting to Rs 35.5 crore.
The MLA demanded that PHE supplies be transferred back to the parent Department so that people do not continue to suffer such severe water crises in the future. He also assured the public that he would push for concrete and lasting flood control measures in water drains and nallahs in and around Jammu West by reinforcing the walls and acting upon the encroachments.
He asked both the Government Departments and public representatives to take open and collective responsibility to prevent such devastation from recurring in the future.
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