AGRA: Facing perennial shortage of drinking water, residents of three villages of Hathras Lok Sabha constituency have threatened to boycott the upcoming elections if the matter is not resolved soon. The villagers have put up banners and posters saying, “Panni do our vote lo (Give water and take vote)”.Earlier in this very constituency, a group of 50 youths from Maho area had decided to “auction” themselves on Republic Day to raise money for providing drinking water to all the houses. However, the local administration and police did not allow them to go ahead with the “auction” and the matter remained unresolved. Residents continue to traverse several kilometres for fetching drinkingwater.This time, more than 6,000 voters of Mahasinghpur, Nagla Maya, and Rajnagar villages have decided not to vote in the elections as the problem of shortage of drinking water has not been resolved by successive governments. Several residents have put up posters on their doors announcing their decision to boycott the elections.Talking with TOI, Rajendra Singh from Nagla Maya village said, “No one seems to understand our problem. We have been demanding clean drinking water for decades but the successive governments have done nothing even after 72 years of Independence.”It is shameful that political parties seek vote in the name of development but actually they do nothing for the people, he added.Chandrapal Singh, an MBA graduate, who had led the “auction” campaign for raising funds for household water connection, said they have approached everyone — administration and political leaders — but to no avail. “If our demand is not met, we will boycott the elections,” said Chandrapal.

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