Agartala, 13th June 2026: While the government’s flagship Jal Jeevan Mission promises clean drinking water for every household, a very different picture has emerged in Kanchanmala’s Muslim Para. Allegations have surfaced against local panchayat member Hanufa Khatun, who is accused of cutting off water supply to residents while continuing to use the government-installed facility exclusively for her own family.
Local sources informed that a water machine was installed at Khatun’s residence under the scheme, intended to serve the community in Ward No. 1 of Kanchanmala Gram Panchayat. Residents say they had access to the water for some time, but about five to six days ago, Khatun allegedly stopped the supply to the neighborhood. Despite this, her household continues to enjoy uninterrupted access.
Villagers claim they approached the panchayat member to share the electricity costs for running the machine. However, Khatun reportedly refused to accept contributions and shut down the supply. This unilateral decision has sparked outrage among residents, who accuse her of acting in an “arbitrary and inhumane” manner.
On Saturday morning, frustrated locals turned to the media to voice their grievances. “The government is ensuring water for every home, but here we are willing to pay and still being denied. In this scorching heat, we are forced to fetch drinking water from distant hills,” one resident lamented.
The incident has triggered widespread anger in the area, with residents demanding immediate government intervention. They insist that no elected representative has the right to treat public property as private. Locals have urged the state authorities to investigate the matter and restore water supply to the community without delay.
