Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 10 Feb: A public hearing was held today under the chairmanship of District Magistrate Savin Bansal to hear and resolve grievances of the people. During the hearing, the district administration ensured immediate relief to an elderly woman by settling her long-pending drinking water bill and arranging its payment, reinforcing the role of the public hearing as an effective platform for the prompt redressal of public grievances.
It may be recalled that a public hearing is organised every Monday at the Collectorate auditorium in Dehradun, where a large number of complainants submit their complaints for resolution. During a recent public hearing, Hardeep Kaur, an elderly resident of Sahastradhara, narrated her ordeal to the DM Bansal and informed him that she had received a drinking water bill of Rs 35,000, which she was unable to pay. She said that she lives alone, has no permanent source of income and frequently remains unwell, making it difficult for her to deal with the financial burden.
The elderly woman further stated that a few years ago she had requested disconnection of her water connection. During that period, some persons had visited her house and had taken Rs 5,000 from her and left, but the water connection was never disconnected. Later, when she approached the office concerned, she was informed that no such employees were posted there, indicating that she had been cheated.
Taking serious note of her distress, the DM immediately sought a report from the Jal Sansthan and directed prompt resolution of the matter. Following verification, the Jal Sansthan revised and settled the 27-month pending drinking water bill of Rs 35,000 at Rs 14,372. Considering the poor financial condition and ill health of the elderly woman, the DM directed that the amount of Rs 14,372 be paid from the Rifle Fund. The district administration would provide this amount to the Jal Sansthan through a cheque, ensuring financial relief to the woman.
Bansal has directed the departments concerned to accord priority to cases involving senior citizens in the future and to deal with such matters with special sensitivity. Inspired by the Chief Minister’s emphasis on the swift resolution of public grievances, the public hearing conducted by the district administration in Dehradun has emerged as a strong and responsive mechanism for addressing the problems of needy and vulnerable citizens.
