Water crisis: Bijala residents to boycott poll

The residents of Bijala Colony in Olamogru Gram Panchayat, Puttur taluk, have decided to boycott the Lok Sabha elections.

The residents said that the village is facing acute water shortage for the past two months and the authorities had failed to resolve the crisis.

“The Colony has over 40 SC families residing. The residents depended on the supply of water by the gram panchayat. As the borewell that was used for supplying water has gone dry, the water supply has been stopped to the colony,” the residents explained.

The people have been struggling to fetch a pot of water for daily use and have decided to boycott the election.

Residents said, “The water is not supplied to Bijala village. The issue has been brought to the notice of the Gram Panchayat. We had appealed to the authorities to make alternative arrangement to supply water. All our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. The Panchayat has not made any effort to supply water to the residents.”

Protest staged

On Tuesday, the residents – including women and children – came to the streets holding empty pots to stage a protest against water crisis.

Chennu, Lakshmi, Vasanthi said, “Political leaders visit us during election. After the election, they turn their backs towards us. In such a scenario, why should we exercise our franchise?”

The residents stressed, “When political leaders visit us during campaign, we have decided to place the demand of water. We will not exercise our franchise till alternative arrangement to supply water is made by the Gram Panchayat.”

Rama Bijala said, “We have been struggling for water for the last two months. However, the Panchayat officials have not visited us to listen to our woes.”

Olamogru Panchayat Development Officer Geetha B S said, “As the borewell had dried, the water crisis in the area had deepened. The Gram Panchayat is making alternative arrangements to supply water to residents by laying a new pipeline.”