Uttar Pradesh, June 24: While the nation and few states like Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradsh in particular – are battling with water shortage, a family of six depressed on finding dry taps allegedly attempted to set themselves ablaze at Kailash Nagar under Uttar police jurisdiction of Firozabad district on Sunday.
According to police, 52-year-old Virender Kumar, who lives with his wife and four daughters, has in a written complaint said that his repeated requests to civic authorities to provide water to his colony have fallen on deaf ears.
The other residents of the area are also battling with the same problem. Houses in the area, which is part of ward 10, do not get piped water as there is no pipeline there. The sole source of water in a single public tap, that often runs dry.
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Speaking with TOI, mayor Nutan Rathore said, “I’m aware of Kailash Nagar ward’s problem. This year, we are facing water scarcity across Firozabad district. Our teams under two executive engineers are working to lay down water pipelines in the colonies in order to give direct water connection to every household. The main pipeline has already been laid.”
According to civic authorities, a Rs 432-crore project is underway to provide water directly to every household. “The delay in laying down of the pipeline is being caused by private contractors. We have already levied a Rs 80 lakh penalty on two contractors for failing to complete the work within the given time,” said Rathore.
She pleaded with residents to be patient till the pipeline is laid. “We are already providing water tankers. If required, we will increase the frequency of tankers to fulfill the demand for water.”
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