With the high voltage lok Sabha election reaching closure, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is scuffling to maintain its hold, has once again turned its focus on its launching pad — New Delhi. True to its nature, the AAP on Monday led a protest in front of a Delhi Jal Board (DJB) office in Greater Kailash-I demanding adequate water supply to Sangam Vihar and Deoli areas. The protest threw the traffic out of gear blocking the entire BRT corridor.
The perennial shortage of water faced by residents of the two South Delhi Assembly constituencies was topped with the absence of tanker facility in the area since the past three days. Banking on the agitated crowds, the rookie party didn’t lose the opportunity to amass all of them and lead a ‘protest’ in front of the DJB’s GK1 office. AAP’s MlA from Deoli, Prakash Jarwal was seen in the forefront during the protests. “Water shortage in the areas has always been there. But, what is appalling is that now no official is ready to hear our plea. We had asked the DJB to increase the number of tankers, but nothing happened. The water utility said that they would install new tubewells, but they did not even carry out a survey for that. The water situation was far better during the 49-day AAP Government,” said Prakash.
“Three days back, the residents of Sangam Vihar roughed up a driver of a DJB tanker after which the Tanker Drivers’ Association went on a flash strike. Because of their strike, not just Sangam Vihar but Deoli too did not get any tanker facility for over two days,” said a Bhagwan Das, a resident of Deoli.
The water utility maintained that tanker facility was resumed on Sunday evening and the issue was resolved. “On our insistence, the tanker drivers called off their strike on Sunday after which nearly 39 trips were made in the area. The protest was totally uncalled for. In fact, they roughed up one of the shift in-charge in our GK-1 office. They took to the streets when we filed two FIRs for manhandling the driver and the in-charge,” said a DJB official.