Ahead of second phase of polling for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, the Congress party has told voters that Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh would be implementing Asias largest water supply scheme by bringing water from the River Beas to the water-scarce areas in the State.
Dharmsala, Dec 18 : Ahead of second phase of polling for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, the Congress party has told voters that Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh would be implementing Asia's largest water supply scheme by bringing water from the River Beas to the water-scarce areas in the State.
Vidhi Chand Lagwal, the Congress candidate from Bamsan, said under the scheme 240 villages of the area between Mewa and Bamsan will be benefited.
"Our efforts are aimed at solving the water crisis in this constituency," Lagwal said.
Voters are clamouring for water in Bamsan, the constituency of a former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The water paucity is acute in Bamsan. The crisis is so intense that both the urban and rural populace is badly affected.
Environmental degradation and rampant construction activity without adequate infrastructure is at the core of the water crisis in the hill-state.
With no visible improvement in basic amenities like electricity supply and roads, some villages of Bamsan constituency in State's Hamirpur District are facing immense hardships. This is compounded by lack of availability of essential commodities.
Bamsan villagers facing a severe water crisis claim that the water bill is regularly delivered, but with scant water supply. Due to the water crisis, various other problems have also emerged.
"Water scarcity is creating problems for us. Taps have run dry. We pay our bills regularly but don't get regular supply of water. Therefore, we will vote for the candidate who will listen to our problems," said Rooma Devi, a Bamsan resident.
That is the stance of a majority of voters in Dhumal's constituency as they are feeling let down by politicians of all hues.
The BJP blames the ruling Congress government which has altered several schemes announced by the former BJP government, which it feels could possibly have solved the problem.
Admitting that the water crisis is severe, Dhumal said: "This problem could have been solved five years ago but nothing has been accomplished due to the lax attitude of the Congress government which followed ours. The delay is because of the present government."
The parties are busy levelling charges and counter charges and skirting the real issues. The Congress is highlighting developmental issues and the BJP is calling for a change of government. The war continues.
ANI