Engineers lay a U-shaped pipeline for drinking water which is likely to benefit only 25 per cent households; Locals claim the project is benefitting A minister’s aide
It was George Orwell’s Animal Farm which introduced the phrase “all men are created equal, but some are more equal than others”. The same allegation is being levelled by residents of Venkateswar Colony who claim that a special pipeline has been laid that services the staff of a minister in Rajasthan government.
Last week the Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED) staff laid a water pipeline in Venkateswar Colony in Sodala. This act of development has created a rift among the residents who now find themselves divided in the Haves and have-nots. The reason: The pipeline reportedly connects the residents on the lane, including that of Mahendra Kumar Sharma, special assistant to Minister of State Rajkumar Rinwa, with drinking water supply.
The PHED, according to sources, overruled the opposition of local councillor and chairman of Municipal Corporation’s Cultural Committee, Bhanwar Lal Saini who wanted drinking water supplied to other residents of the colony as well.
They allege that the PHED has laid a pipeline in ‘U’ shape which services only 25 per cent of the colony’s houses. Representatives of the remaining households approached the Social Justice and Empowerment minister Arun Chaturvedi to register their protest. It was on Chaturvedi’s direction that funds were sanctioned for the drinking water infrastructure.
“We had proposed laying a new pipeline a year ago. However, PHED has chosen to lay the pipeline in the street with least residents. This has been done to cater to the needs of influential people,” said a resident of Venkateshwar Colony. If the PHED had carried out the exercise from the other end opening on the Ajmer Road then the entire colony would have benefitted. But it chose to work on the road connecting the New Sanganer Road,” he added.
Councillor Bhanwar Lal Saini is also not pleased. He said the proposal was passed because of collective efforts. Under the proposal, the pipeline was to be laid in the entire colony. “I called the executive engineer and he assured to send a junior engineer on the spot. No engineer came for three days. Now, this issue has been conveyed to the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Arun Chaturvedi,” Saini told DNA. When contacted, Mahendra K Sharma said, “We have water problem here. The officials have laid the pipeline. I believe that the pipeline should be laid in the entire colony”.
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