A large number of unused water supply pipes of the Jal Shakti Department (JSD), which are lying in different villages of Sidhpurghat gram panchayat in the Jawali Assembly constituency for over two years, has brought the local JSD authorities under scanner.
Taking cognisance of the matter, Deepak Garg, Chief Engineer, JSD, Dharamsala, has directed the Superintending Engineer, Nurpur, to probe the alleged negligence on part of the field officials.
As per information, a video clip of the unused pipes scattered at Bhati and Parli-Bhati villages went viral on social media a few days ago. Enquiries revealed that the pipes have been lying at different locations for the past two years, but the department has failed to secure them and keep them back in store.
Residents, who have been waiting for piped water supply for the past two years, have demanded a high-level probe into the alleged negligence, besides fixing the responsibility for “abandoning” the government property.
When contacted, Chief Engineer Deepak Garg said preliminary investigation revealed that the pipes were sanctioned for a 4.5-km stretch under the Rural Water Supply (RWS) scheme in the Jawali division of the JSD. The scheme was sanctioned under the centrally sponsored Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
“The department, through its contractor, had laid pipes on a 7-km stretch two years ago, but no funds were allocated for the scheme in the past two fiscals,” he added. Garg said he had also directed the local JSD authorities to immediately secure the unused pipes and keep them in the department’s store.