Jaipur: In a major escalation over Jaipur’s worsening water crisis, former Rajasthan minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas Monday led a protest march and siege of Jal Bhawan, forcing officials to issue orders increasing the city’s water supply by 200 lakh litres.Hundreds of Congress workers, public representatives, and residents joined the agitation, which culminated in a dramatic siege of Jal Bhawan at Hasanpura. The protest was withdrawn after senior officials arrived with written assurances to improve the water supply and address complaints of dirty water within 24 hours.The agitation began with a foot march from Khachariyawas House to Jal Bhawan, drawing large crowds and public support along the route. Protesters raised slogans against the BJP govt, accusing it of failing to provide drinking water during peak summer conditions.Outside Jal Bhawan, Congress workers smashed empty clay pots as a symbolic protest against water scarcity and contaminated water supply in several areas of Jaipur. Police locked the main gate of Jal Bhawan to control the situation, following which Congress MLA Rafeek Khan and several workers climbed atop the gate, demanding that officials open it.Congress workers lay down on the scorching hot road at Hasanpura Chowk for nearly 10 minutes, disrupting traffic while protesting the drinking water crisis.Addressing the dharna outside Jal Bhawan, Khachariyawas attacked the BJP govt, alleging that residents were being forced to buy water campers for ₹50 while tanker operators were exploiting the situation. He said people across Jaipur were receiving dirty and contaminated water while the govt remained “comfortable in air-conditioned rooms.”Earlier, Khachariyawas issued a stern warning, saying that if the water crisis and dirty water supply were not resolved within 24 hours, Congress would intensify the agitation and lay siege to the chief minister’s residence.“If the public’s problem is not resolved, I will make the CM and ministers drink this dirty water. If required, I will personally cut the water connections of ministers and the CM,” he said.Following the protest, senior PHED officials, including state chief engineer Devraj Solanki and Ajay Singh Rathore, met Khachariyawas and handed over a written order regarding the enhancement of water supply. Officials assured the protesters that areas facing contaminated water supply and shortage would be addressed within 24 hours. They promised free tanker arrangements and completion of pending water supply measures in affected localities.Following the assurance, Khachariyawas called off the siege, describing the development as “the victory of the people.” He claimed the BJP govt was “forced to wake up” because of public pressure and the Congress agitation.
