Residents of Chhatarpur Ramlila Chowk Struggling for Every Drop of Water, Raise Slogans Against MLA Kartar Singh
Reyasat Ali Sameer
Senior Correspondent
New Delhi :
The water crisis in the Chhatarpur Assembly constituency’s Ramlila Chowk has now reached an explosive stage. For the past two years, residents have been struggling for every drop of water, and on Sunday, the agitated locals took to the streets in protest.
Angry residents raised slogans against MLA Chaudhary Kartar Singh Tanwar and the Delhi Jal Board, breaking earthen pots (matkas) at Ramlila Chowk to express their outrage.
“No Water Supply, Yet Delhi Jal Board Sends Bills Worth Lakhs”
During the protest, several residents revealed that even though not a single drop of water reaches their homes for months, the Delhi Jal Board continues to send hefty bills.
One protester claimed that his water bill exceeded two lakh rupees.
> “What kind of system is this? There’s no water in our taps, yet every bill runs into thousands or even lakhs. When we visit the Jal Board office, they just say—‘It’s a system error.’ How long will this ‘error’ continue?”
“Two Years of Thirst and Neglect”
Residents complained that despite repeated written complaints and appeals, neither the MLA nor the Jal Board has taken effective action.
A woman who formerly worked at a bank said—
> “Because of the water crisis, I used to reach work late every day. Eventually, I lost my job. Now it’s hard to even run the household.”
An elderly woman added—
> “Our children can’t reach school on time. This isn’t a one-day issue—it’s an everyday struggle. Words can’t describe our suffering.”
“Builders Get Water, But the Public Suffers”
Residents alleged that unauthorized seven-storey buildings in the area receive a regular water supply due to administrative collusion, while nearby localities face severe scarcity.
One local resident explained—
The land in Chhatarpur was originally allotted to the Delhi Jal Board so that this area could get water. But now that same water is being diverted to Fatehpur, Dera, and Bhati. When we ask, officials say ‘the pressure is low.’ Is the pressure low only for Chhatarpur?
Malls on 100-Foot Road Flourish, But Residents Remain Thirsty
A young protester expressed anger—
“Massive malls and new buildings are coming up on 100-Foot Road, and they all have ample water supply. If the population pressure is rising, why hasn’t our three-time MLA Chaudhary Kartar Singh Tanwar solved the crisis?”
“Water Mafia Controls the Jal Board”
Protesters alleged that a powerful water mafia has infiltrated the Delhi Jal Board, forcing ordinary citizens to buy water at high prices from private tankers.
Senior journalist Deepak Kumar said—
> “We’ve filed complaints and even RTI applications, but got no response. The so-called triple-engine BJP government seems completely indifferent to the people’s plight.”
“If the Problem Isn’t Solved, There Will Be a Mass Gherao”
A large number of men and women warned that if the issue isn’t resolved soon, they would march to and surround the offices of both the MLA and the Jal Board in protest.
“An Assembly Named After Chhatarpur, Yet Its People Remain Thirsty”
It’s ironic that the assembly constituency bearing the name Chhatarpur is the one suffering the worst water shortage.
The question now is — when will three-time MLA Chaudhary Kartar Singh Tanwar take this public distress seriously, and when will the thirst of Chhatarpur’s residents finally be quenched?
