UP: Taps run dry in most Aliganj households, no water to drink

LUCKNOW: Over 20,000 people in Vishnupuri Colony and adjoining areas in Aliganj are facing drinking water crisis for last one week as the tubewell installed in a park is unable to draw water due to depletion of groundwater level.
According to residents, they lodged a complaint with civic authorities but it was not redressed, following which they decided to get re-boring done on their own.
However, the work of re-boring was stopped by a man with the help of police. He claimed that the land belongs to him and he had secured a stay order from the court on any activity on the land.
Residents said as they depend on water from the tubewell, they are forced to spend huge amount on purchasing water from the market.
They have also met the municipal commissioner, mayor and urban development minister to seek redressal of their problem.
General secretary of Vishnupuri Vistaar Kalyan Samiti SK Srivastava said, “We have been getting supply from the tubewell for the last 15 years. If there is a court stay on any activity, the Lucknow Municipal Corporation and Jal Sansthan should make alternate arrangement for us. We all pay taxes and have a right to basic facilities.”
Aditya Agarwal, a resident, said: “The water that we are getting from the tubewell is muddy and not fit for drinking. We are buying water from a private company which sends its tankers daily. Residents have to make a beeline to collect water.”
Jal Sansthan secretary OP Sharma said, “No one has the right to stop basic facilities. If there is a legal dispute, we will approach the court. In the meantime, re-boring will be done.”