BJP attacks Cong in HP; blames it for drought like situation

The BJP today attacked the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh saying its inability to solve chronic water shortage has led to a drought-like situation in the state.
"Most parts of Himachal are reeling under acute water shortage but the government has neither taken any effective step to solve the problem nor have they put any contingency plan in place to provide succour to thirsty people," chief spokesman Rajiv Bindal said.
Claiming thatthe problem started before the onset of summers, he said, "As per the information available, 70 per cent of water supply and irrigation schemes have run dry and there is hue and cry in the state but the government is maintaining a stoic silence".

The government should at least install hand-pumps in drought hit areas so that the people could get potable drinking water, he said.
"The farmers are suffering as neither fodder nor water had been made available to them and the situation has become worse as Guljar families in border areas of Una and Sirmaur are shifting to Punjab and Haryana to provide water to their cattle and fodder," Bindal said.
Bindal said he had written to the chief minister in this regard but there was no response or action.
Insisting that it is the responsibility of the government to take care of basic needs of the farmers, he said the callous attitude of the government can be gauged from the fact that it has started the process of inviting tenders for purchase of water tankers which means that the people would continue to face water shortage for many more days.

He also expressed concern over forest fires raging in several parts of the state and said that the government should come out with some concrete plan to save the forests.