Protesters lock VVWW office

Residents angry over irregular supply of water; want early solution

The office was opened only after an hour, following an assurance issued by the authorities.

Earlier, the protesters led by former MLA M K Somashekar locked the office after vacating a few staffers who had resumed duty in the morning. Displaying empty water pots, the protesters, including women raised slogans against the officers concerned for the hardship. A resident of Ramakrishna Nagar ‘H’ block alleged that the residents are receiving water on alternate days since last few months. “Whenever we complain to the officers, they often ask us to cooperate.

Some are arrogant and ask us to leave, or don’t care to respond to our problems,” the protester said. Somashekar took the assistant executive engineer (west) of VVWW, Nagegowda to task for keeping mum on the issue and asked the officer to resolve the issue at the earliest.

Power cut

Nagegowda said that the problem had arisen owing to power cut, apart from the failure of three borewells. Somashekar who was not ready to buy his words demanded the officer to address the woes at the earliest.

He also told the engineer that they were not ready to listen to the version regarding JUSCO that has been entrusted with the task of ‘Operation and Maintenance’.

“JUSCO is just over a year old and you (VVWW) have been around for the past several decades”, Somashekar told the engineer.

Sources told Deccan Herald, as many as 5,000 houses come under the limits of VVWW office at Ramakrishna Nagar. While a few of the residents are fortunate to get water atleast on alternate days, some had to wait for four days for water. Similarly the woes differ in every household. Nagegowda in his reply promised that he will look into the issue and arranged for sending water tankers to the localities on priority, bringing an end to the protest. The office was also unlocked later.