Water scarcity becomes a major poll issue in Dharamsala

Dharamsala, Apr 14 (ANI): Scarcity of drinking water has become a major poll issue in Dharamsala.

Villagers have made up their mind that they will cast votes for a candidate who would solve their water problem.

Vidya Devi, a resident complained that politicians promise to fulfil their developmental needs every time elections are round the corner but the problems remain.

"We will only give our vote to one who solves our water problem. We have taps in our homes, but they are more of a showpiece. We don't have either hand pumps or wells here," she said.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal took a dig saying that he would create ponds where the 'lotus', the poll symbol of his Bharatiya Janata Party, would blossom.

"We are solving the water issue and creating ponds where the lotus will prosper," said Dhumal.

Local problems and the developmental works undertaken by the State Governments are often major swing factors for political parties even in general elections. Quite a few villages mass boycott the polling citing lack of developmental works. By Akhilesh Bharti (ANI)