Kiran, Naina take on minister over water shortage

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Kiran Choudhry and INLD legislator Naina Chautala today took on Minister of State for Public Health Banwari Lal on inadequate water supply in their constituencies, leaving the minister looking for answers.

To Choudhry’s question about the shortage of water in Bhiwani district during the Question Hour of the monsoon session of the Assembly, the minister denied it.

She countered the minister, claiming people were being forced to buy water at exorbitant rates and that the minister was being misled by his officers into believing there was no shortage. “If these officers are misleading you, action should be initiated against them. Let there be an inquiry,” she said.

To this, Banwari Lal asked her to send her grievance in writing and assured her of looking into the matter.

When Naina Chautala sought to know how often water supply channels were cleaned because it was not unusual to find bones and rotting remains in water supplied in Sirsa, the minister pleaded ignorance.

Unwilling to take Banwari Lal’s ignorance for an answer, Naina persisted and questioned him. “You are the minister and you don’t know how often such cleanliness drives are undertaken? You should be aware of your duties and updated about the working. It has been two months you are heading the department,” she said, leaving the minister fumbling.

Earlier, Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said a university would be set up in Gurgaon and work would commence this year.

He said CM Manohar Lal Khattar had announced a university during a public meeting at Kakrola village in April. The Kakrola panchayat has agreed to provide land for it and passed a resolution to transfer 398 kanals and three marlas to the government for the university.

Ram Bilas assured the House that all engineering and BEd colleges affiliated to Kurukshetra University would not be shifted to any other university.

Question Hour

The House paid tributes to four soldiers of Haryana. Khattar, leader of the House, paid tributes to the martyrs for showing indomitable courage while safeguarding the unity and integrity of the country. The soldiers were Havildar Rattan Singh of Nangal Mohanpur village, Sepoy Deepak Kumar of Lehroda village, Sepoy Rakesh Kumar of Kakrala village (all in Mahendragarh district), and Sepoy Raghubir Singh of Panipat's Shahpur village. The House resolved to convey its condolences to members of bereaved families. A two-minute silence was observed.