The failure of government machinery and bureaucratic indifference was starkly exposed in Mingni Khera village of Hisar district, where residents were forced to take matters into their own hands. The village Gram Panchayat and a local youth club had to clean the community's water tanks using their own funds after concerned officials repeatedly ignored their pleas.
Broken Promises and Rising Fears
According to the villagers, the relevant department had provided a written assurance that the water tanks would be cleaned within a span of 15 days. However, no action was taken even after multiple complaints and reminders from the community. The situation became critical with the expected supply of clean canal water to these tanks within the next two days. Residents feared that allowing clean water into the contaminated storage units would pose a severe health risk to the entire village.
Community Takes Charge
Left with no alternative, the Gram Panchayat, supported by the Lions Youth Club, undertook the urgent task of cleaning both water tanks. They financed the entire operation from their own resources. Villagers stated that this timely intervention prevented the supply of polluted drinking water to every household, potentially averting a widespread health disaster.
A Glaring Gap Between Promise and Reality
Residents alleged that the water tanks had been filled with dirty drain water since the monsoon season, yet authorities failed to initiate any corrective measures. The incident highlights the chasm between the government's claims of providing clean drinking water to every village and the ground reality, where local panchayats and social organisations are compelled to shoulder basic civic responsibilities.
Sarpanch Jang Bahadur and Lions Youth Club president Vishal Bachchi strongly criticised the district administration for neglecting the issue despite written assurances. They emphasized that such inaction raises serious questions about the administration's functioning. They added that if elected representatives are not heard, the plight of ordinary citizens can easily be imagined.
