Uttarkashi, 12 September (HS). The villagers' protest in Uttarkashi has been going on for 77 days over complaints of irregularities in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious scheme Jal Jeevan Mission.
On Thursday, the patience of the protesters broke when the Gaon Bachao agitators, who had been peacefully sitting on Gandhi Giri in the Collectorate since June 18, sat on a dharna in the District Magistrate's office after 77 days. They alleged that the administration had parked government vehicles at the dharna site. The villagers sat on the dharna throughout the day. In view of the tense atmosphere, Sub-District Magistrate Bhatwadi Brijesh Kumar Tiwari, Kotwali in-charge Amar Jeet deployed heavy police force.
Late in the evening, the District Magistrate called the agitating villagers and held talks. Rajveer Singh Negi of Singot village said that 109 families in the village have been given Jal Jeevan Mission connection. In Phase One, one family has been shown to have three connections, i.e. fake connections. District Magistrate Dr. Meherban Singh Bisht has taken the matter seriously and has ordered an inquiry by the Executive Engineer of Jal Nigam and has assured strict action. The District Magistrate said that corruption will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
At the same time, irregularities have been reported in the Jal Jeevan Mission scheme in Athali, Pawa and Nisamour. During this, the villagers of Athali, Pawa and Nisamour villages have alleged that the Jal Jeevan line has been repaired and taped after replacing the old line.
Meanwhile, protester Abhishek Jagudi said that talks were held with the district magistrate, but the protest will continue.
Water should be available in every tap: Jagudi
Senior advocate Dr. Nagendra Jagudi, convenor of the Gaon Bachao Andolan workers, said that crores of rupees were shown to have been spent under the Jal Jeevan Mission scheme, but according to the scheme, there is no tap water in every house. He said that we need water in the tap of every house.
Now you can stage a sit-in protest at Ramlila ground
Sub-district magistrate Bhatwadi Brijesh Kumar Tiwari issued an order and identified Ramlila ground behind the vegetable market in the district headquarters Uttarkashi for organizing rallies, hunger strikes, sit-in demonstrations, processions etc. for various problems and demands by various student organizations, political organizations, employee organizations etc.