No water in Surajpur site C since inception; residents left in the lurch

[Harpreet Singh Guller]

No water in Surajpur site C since inception; residents left in the
lurch

Believe it or not but Surajpur site C in Greater Noida, established by
the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation (UPSIDC) in
1990, does not yet have a water connection, allege residents.
Several families have been surviving without water supply from the
authority for the past couple of years.
Residents say two to three years back, the UPSIDC warned owners that
if they did not build houses on their vacant plots, heavy fine would
be imposed on them. Fearing action, the owners decided to build their
dream houses on the plots with their hard-earned money.
But to their utter shock, the residents found they even didn't have
even the basic amenities. There are 10 to 12 houses in Surajpur site C
where residents have been living without any water supply or
electricity connection for the past two years. Kanika Gaur, a resident
of Surajpur site C says, "It is almost like living in a village. We
are living without water since we came here. All our water taps are
lying useless. We have to walk around 1 km for getting water from a
house where a hand pump has been installed."
Residents claim UPSIDC had provided water connections at one nearby
private apartments built by Ansal Builders, but there are no water
connections for the remaining state houses.
Another resident of Surajpur site C says, "As Ansal gives them hefty
money, the government provides them all the facilities. We the poor
ones suffer as we are living here without any facilities. Living here
is like living in hell."
Residents are using generators and hand pumps.
Charan Singh Pundir, RWA president said, "Every month, we have to
spend about Rs 1200 for generators. Every day, we have to run the
generators for an hour to fill water for bathing, drinking, and other
essential work."
There is one big water tank in the area for the residents but the
irony is no water connection has been provided from that to the
residents.
The residents have filed and written several complaints to UPSIDC but
every time they hear new excuses from them.
Recently, when residents of Surajpur site C went to the UPSIDC office,
an official said, "We can give water connection only after we get
electricity connection so that water can be pumped to the residential
areas."
Residents allege officials behave very arrogantly and sometimes even
misbehave with them when they approach them with their complaints.
Retd Colonel KS Rawat says, "Whenever we meet the officials they
behave as if we are beggars."
Countering the allegations, Santosh Kumar, regional manager and
engineer, UPSIDC says, "We have provided water connection to the
residents of Surajpur area. Residents should get connection from the
nearest office and deposit the water bills timely."