In a dramatic display of public frustration, Shiv MLA Ravindra Singh Bhati staged a sit-in protest at the office of the additional chief engineer of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) in Barmer on Wednesday. The protest highlighted the severe drinking water crisis plaguing villages in his Jaisalmer constituency, where taps and water tanks under the Jal Jeevan Mission remain dry despite crores of rupees being shown as spent on paper.
MLA's Protest and Public Anger Boils Over
The MLA's protest was a direct response to villagers in the Harsani sub-tehsil area calling for a complete bandh on Wednesday. Bhati arrived at the PHED office in Barmer to confront officials about the persistent delays. He initially waited on a chair but eventually sat on the ground in the officer's chamber after failing to receive a clear answer. His sit-in continued for several hours, concluding only around 5 pm.
Bhati revealed that he has been writing to the PHED department about the issue since last year without any response. He demanded a concrete timeline for when water would finally reach the affected villages, calling it shameful that residents are forced to struggle for a basic necessity like drinking water.
Ground Reality vs Paperwork: Allegations of Corruption
The core of the dispute lies in the implementation of the central government's flagship Jal Jeevan Mission. Bhati alleged that while work worth crores of rupees is marked as completed in official records, the ground reality tells a different story. "The scheme was a dream project that has been undermined by ground-level corruption among officials and middlemen," Bhati told the media after his protest.
Villagers echoed these sentiments, describing the crisis in Harsani as especially severe. They stated that public anger is rising due to administrative negligence, corruption, and an anti-people working style. For months, locals have approached officials with complaints but have received only empty assurances instead of tangible solutions.
Administration's Response and Impending Deadline
As tensions flared, villagers also gathered at the PHED assistant engineer's office in Barmer, raising slogans and keeping the atmosphere charged. Faced with the escalating situation, officials acknowledged the seriousness of the problem. They have now sought 10 days to resolve the drinking water issue.
However, MLA Ravindra Singh Bhati has issued a stern warning. He stated that if water does not reach every household in his constituency within the given 10-day period, he will resume his protest. The coming days will be a critical test for the administration's ability to translate promises into action and deliver a fundamental right to the parched villages of Jaisalmer.
