Raj: Border villages reeling under water shortage

Barmer, Apr 17: Kelnor, the last village on India-Pakistan border, is reeling under acute water shortage in this summer heat.

Not only Kelnor but a dozen other villages in the Gafan region in Barmer district are struggling for want of safe drinking water.

In terms of security, Kelnor village is strategically significant as it is the last village on the India-Pakistan border.

But surprisingly, this village does not even have the basic facilities, 60 years after independence. Not a single house has power connection. Even the hospital is bereft of electric connection. The BSF has to use a generator to carry on its work of providing water through tankers.

Sam Pitroda Drinking Water Project, which was supposed to have provided drinking water to villagers, got shelved. Another drinking water project Tala Shomla Drinking water project also got scrapped as there wasn't proper monitering.

At least 13 other villages along with Kelnor are severly affected due to water shortage. Villagers are dependent on borewells for now.

Barmer district collector Subir Kumar said Public Health and Engineering department have been instructed to provide drinking water to villagers soon.

UNI