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During her visit to Badsoo Panchayat in Nagrota, the MLA staged a warning protest against the department. She highlighted that more than 13 PHE stations and dug wells across the constituency have remained defunct for several months, severely affecting water supply to thousands of residents.
Citing specific instances, she pointed out that the PHE dug wells at Hurnali and Kah Pohta have been non-functional since August following flood damage, with no meaningful restoration efforts undertaken so far.
Expressing serious concern, Ms. Rana stated that despite substantial allocations in the 2026-27 budget to the PHE sector of ₹3,500 crore along with financial assistance from the Central Government of an additional approximately ₹3,000 crore under SASCI, the UT administration and the department have “miserably failed” to utilize these funds effectively.
“It is deeply unfortunate that despite such liberal funding, there is a visible lack of planning, monitoring, and accountability. Resources have not been translated into results,” she asserted.
Taking strong exception to the functioning of the Mechanical Wing of the PHE department, she said the department has failed to ensure timely repair and maintenance of pump sets and motors.
“In many cases, motors are repaired and reinstalled only to get burnt again within days. This clearly points towards substandard repair work, lack of technical oversight, and absence of preventive maintenance. Such inefficiency is unacceptable,” she said.
She further added that over the past six days, the department has been repeatedly repairing and reinstalling motors, pumps, and transformers at PHE stations in Galali and Gharota, only for them to develop faults or burn out again the very next day. “This recurring failure reflects sheer mismanagement, poor quality control, and a complete lack of accountability within the system,” she asserted.
She further noted that water tanker services, which had been providing temporary relief, have also been discontinued without any alternative arrangements, aggravating the hardships faced by the people.
“At a time when the existing infrastructure is already crippled, stopping tanker services reflects utter insensitivity towards the suffering of the people, especially during peak summer days,” she added. Ms. Rana asked the department to act immediately and restore all defunct water supply systems on a war footing.
“If the authorities continue to remain indifferent, the patience of the people will wear thin. They will have no option but to come out on the streets and protest against this blatant neglect and administrative failure,” she warned. She urged the UT administration to intervene at the highest level, fix responsibility, and ensure time-bound restoration of water supply systems.
Emphasizing that access to safe and adequate drinking water is a basic right, she stated, “The people of Nagrota deserve better. Their fundamental needs cannot be ignored any longer.” “This is not a sudden crisis, but a man-made situation caused by continuous inaction and lack of urgency on the part of the department,” she added.
