Congress workers protest water woes, clash with police

Congress workers in Alwar led by party’s district chief Tikaram Jully on Friday staged a demonstration protesting over scarcity of drinking water in the district.

Party workers clashed with police and later alleged that they were roughed up by the police.

Party workers from across the district gathered at the city’s Nangloi Circle to protest against the political developments in Karnataka and burnt effigy of the Prime Minister before marching to the water supply department.

The protesters handed over an 8-point memorandum over the scarcity of drinking water to water supply department officials.

Later, there was a ruckus as party workers, raising slogans against the department, tried to enter the water supply department offices.

District Mahila Congress general secretary Sweta Saini said police misbehaved with women protesters.

“Women face the brunt of water scarcity the most as it affects their daily chores,” she said.

Congress district chief Jully said, the department agreed to set up control rooms at every office in the district.

“They said they will increase the number of tankers supplying drinking water and clear the pending dues of tankers operators for the last two years.”

If the department does not solve water woes within three days, there will be a bigger agitation, Jully said.

Meanwhile, additional chief engineer MC Rathi said the department will increase the number of tankers fitted with GPS.

“Although some tanker owners are opposing the move, we will go ahead as we want to solve the problem by August. We cannot do much as the district depends on groundwater, which is falling day by day,” he said.

According to the National Capital Region Rules, a consumer should get 200 litres of drinking water every day but the supply is less than 100 litres.

City households get piped water once in two days, residents said.