Gurgaon on Edge- Residents Losing Calm Over Crumbling Facilities

The ongoing water and power crises in the rural as well as urban areas
are soon reaching a flashpoint, jolting the civic agencies and turning
into a law and order problem in Gurgaon district.

In its own curious way, the issue of power and water shortage is bridging
the rural-urban divide. On the one hand, aggrieved people of Islampur,
Nathupur and Badshapur villages blocked Subhash Chowk, NH-8 and MG Road
bringing the traffic to a halt, while residents of DLF colony have been
protesting against erratic water supply on the other hand.

Prolonged power cuts in Delhi had triggered riots when angry mobs damaged
discom offices and properties. Gurgaon too might witness a similar backlash
from the agitating villagers if the situation doesn’t improve.

Residents of various villages had recently blocked the major roads
including NH-8, demanding better water supply and improved sewerage
system.

“The situation is getting unbearable. I will not be surprised
to see people resorting to violence and blocking roads in Gurgaon to
shake up the administration and state government,” said R S Rathee,
president, Gurgaon Citizens’ Council.

In both the rural and urban Gurgaon, water woes are an offshoot of
the severe power shortage. The city needs 70MGD but gets only 40MGD
of water, the shortfall of 30MGD has an impact on every household in
Gurgaon. According to Census 2011, out of a total of 3,20,642 households
in Gurgaon district, including both rural and urban population, only
1,93,401 households get treated tap water.

According to Rathee, the dismal power situation is having a devastating
effect on water supply in both the rural and urban areas of Gurgaon.
Most people depend on tubewells and borewells for water. “Power
cuts in the city last for over six hours and more than 10 hours in the
rural areas. The poor power situation is having a direct bearing on
the district’s water supply,” said Rathee.