Poor coordination between Executive Engineers of Jal Shakti, PDD leads to water crisis in Poonch city; “Motor Kharab hai”, “Power off hai”
POONCH TODAY NEWS
POONCH: Due to poor coordination between the Executive Engineers of PDD and Jal Shakti departments as far as ensuring regular power supply to pumping station Kamsar is concerned for onward regular water supply, the people of Poonch city are suffering a lot. Sometimes Jal Shakti officials used to say “Motor Kharab hai” and sometimes they used to say “PDD regular power supply nahi deta pumping station ko.” It is important to note that following the posting of a new executive engineer in the Jal Shakti department, Poonch, people have begun to experience significant inconveniences due to poor water supply, for reasons best known to department officials. Time and again, the matter was brought to the attention of the district administration by the people of Poonch City, but no action has yet been taken by Deputy Commissioner Poonch. On paper, the department claims good water supply throughout the Poonch district in addition to launching many schemes, but ground conditions speak different languages. Over the years, crores of rupees under different schemes were provided to the PHE department in Poonch, but tainted officials looted government money by all means through various schemes. The Maximum Executive Engineers who worked at PHE Poonch failed to ensure that the people of Poonch had reliable water supplies. A few department officials are involved in numerous wrongdoings during the tendering process for various works at their private residences. Who knows what is going on behind the scenes, as the tainted PHE officials have taken everything for granted. Insiders in the Jal Shakti department told “POONCH TODAY,” pleading anonymity, “Kuch officials ne bahut fraud kiya hai. Agar inquiry hoo, toh bahut log fass jayenge.” On the one hand, the government has launched many schemes aimed at providing round the clock water supply to people in rural areas, but if this is the condition of Poonch City, where the entire city is suffering from a water shortage, then what is expected of water supply in rural areas. If people question Jal Shakti authorities about the reason for the poor supply, they have only one answer: “Motor Kharab hai.” Or “Power supply off hai”. Rather than providing good services to the people, a large number of Jal Shakti officials can be seen engaging in other private activities, unconcerned about providing a reliable water supply. The matter of irregular water supply was raised on various public platforms, but the district administration seems to be in slumber as no concrete efforts were made from the office of the Deputy Commissioner to ensure regular water supply to the people. Rather than solving public grievances, low-ranking PHE officials are seen indulging in acts of arrogance with the public. The whole system of the Jal Shakti department has become defunct due to the lack of efficiency of Executive Engineer Poonch. Locals have demanded that the government look into the matter immediately and that an inquiry commission be appointed to look into the massive frauds that were scripted in PHE Department Poonch over the years by tainted PHE officials, including X.ENs, AEEs, JEs, and other staff members, and take strong action against them for wreaking havoc on the government exchequer.
