Might is right in parched villages; handpumps locked

Kanpur: In sleepy Nasirpur village in the ravines of Kanpur Dehat, a group of armed men has locked a handpump and put up a notice which reads: 'Outsiders are not allowed to draw water from this handpump'. Similarly, the lone handpump in Khojarampur village is out of bounds for other villagers. Meant to serve 2,000 villagers, this facility is also chained and locked by musclemen.
Such sights are common in Gopalpur, Gohani, Jamhua, Lilaura, Khojarampur, Khatkar, Bhaal, Bachati, Damanpur, Omarpur, Hariharpur, Gurdahi and Ranipur villages across Kanpur Dehat district.
An official of Jal Nigam in Kanpur Dehat admitted that handpumps have become a cause of disputes in the region. Due to water scarcity, 'influential' people are preventing others from using village handpumps.
Villagers says authorities pay no heed to their grievances and they travel six to seven kms every day to bring water from Yamuna.
"Powerful people lock the handpumps. It is chained in such a way that it can be operated only when the lock is opened," Munna Kewat of Nasirpur village said while talking to TOI.
Another villager Ram Sajeevan said, "Some influential men have even forced the authorities to install handpumps in front or even their house. And they put a chain and lock public handpumps."
"The poor people suffer. Women and children collect water from Yamuna and other water bodies," Anirudh Tiwari, a resident of Mehmoodpur village said.
Social activist Naresh Katiyar said that scarcity of water and mismanagement by local officials have embolden such elements. The situation often becomes volatile, leading to fights and brawls between residents of different villages.
"The villagers often complain verbally against such elements but none muster courage to file a named FIR against influential people. The police become helpless in such situations," a police officer of Bhognipur said.
SDM Bhognipur Jai Nath Yadav said: "We have alerted our sub-ordinates. During tehsil diwas, we review the situation. Such elements will be dealt with iron hand. The people should come forward and register complaints. These handpumps are meant for masses and not for any individual."