Delhi.Swaraj India protests outside Delhi Jal Board Headquarters against persistent problem of water supply in Delhi. Hundreds of women who have to face the problem everyday take active part in the protests.
Hundreds of women of Patel Nagar assembly constituency who have to face the drinking water crisis today protested outside the Jhandewalan headquarters of the Delhi Jal Board. Led by Swaraj India Delhi State President Anupam, hundreds of party workers actively participated in the protest. The protests were held to demand a permanent solution to the problems of lack of water faced by people living in areas like Prem Nagar, Baljeet Nagar, Holi Chowk, Ambedkar Park, Rajiv Nagar and Nehru Nagar of Patel Nagar assembly. Along with Party’s State Vice-President and former legislator of Patel Nagar, Veena Anand, the party’s State General Secretary Navneet Tiwari also participated.
The Delhi Jal Board, in response to the demands, promised to provide a detailed implementation report by Tuesday, 12th September. The Jal board officials said that by the next Tuesday, they will make it clear as to how long will they take to resolve the water crisis and issues related to it. Addressing the protesters, Anupam said, “The present government of Delhi came into power on the promise of “Bijli Half, Paani Maaf”. But today it has become clear what it meant by “Paani Maaf”, the party actually meant that they would not provide water at all.
“The struggle for water is a struggle for life and death. And if we have to die, we would prefer to die fighting than give ho lives for black of water,” Anupam said.
Government’s attitude towards the basic necessity of water, in the national capital, is shocking. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has advertised himself all over the country on the issue of water while the unfortunate truth is that water is one of the biggest failures of the Delhi Government.
A few months ago, the Aam Aadmi Party led Delhi government had itself accepted that the Delhi Jal Board is riddled with corruption and had removed Kapil Mishra on this pretext. And now the removal of Rajendra Pal Gautam from the post of Minister of Water Resources is yet another acknowledgement that the Kejriwal government has made no improvement on the issue. After spending two and a half years without any portfolio, Mr. Arvind Kejriwal is now taking over the ministry of Water. Swaraj India hopes that the Chief Minister will take direct responsibility so that the people of Delhi are not cheated again. Swaraj India has demanded that the Chief Minister come up with a white paper on the serious issue and take immediate actions to resolve it.
