Ghaziabad councillor Shekhar Tyagi climbs water tank, threatens suicide over pending civic issues

To draw the attention of corporation officials towards a non-operational water tank constructed in June 1999, along with other pending civic issues, Bahujan Samaj Party councillor from Ward 39, Shekhar Tyagi, climbed a water tank on Wednesday and threatened to commit suicide if it was not made operational soon.

To draw the attention of corporation officials towards a non-operational water tank constructed in June 1999, along with other pending civic issues, Bahujan Samaj Party councillor from Ward 39, Shekhar Tyagi, climbed a water tank on Wednesday and threatened to commit suicide if it was not made operational soon.

After nearly two hours of efforts, Bahujan Samaj Party councillor Shekhar Tyagi and his supporters were brought down. (Sakib Ali/HT)

“After the water tank was opened in 1999, water was supplied to residents for nearly a year. Thereafter, the motor pumps went out of order and were never repaired or replaced. When I became the councillor, I started protests and dharnas over the issue,” Tyagi said.

Tyagi had staged five dharnas since 2012. The last time, a pump was installed but it was not efficient enough to pump up the water to the tank.

“Sixth time, instead of a dharna, I decided to commit suicide. Now, the police, administration and corporation officials arrived and promised that the issue will be taken up before the election code of conduct comes into effect. It was after this that I decided to come down from the tank,” he added.

Fearing any untoward incident, the administration summoned an ambulance, fire tender and police officials to persuade Tyagi from taking any extreme step

After nearly two hours of efforts, Tyagi and his supporters were brought down. The protestors later handed over their representation to corporation officials and city magistrate BS Yadav.

“We received a representation from the councillor that included the issues of water tank, bad roads, blocked drainage, overflowing sewage and other issues from the locality. We assured him all the issues will be forwarded to the departments concerned and taken up on priority,” said SK Tiwari, deputy municipal commissioner.

The residents said that the water tank is a much needed necessity for a population of nearly 15,000 residents of several residential blocks of Nehru Nagar and other adjoining settlements.

“The officials paid no attention to our water tank for all these years. Now, residents have started using bore wells and submersible pumps to draw water. The overflowing sewage, blocked drainage and bad roads are other important issues that need attention. There is hardly any fogging activity while residents are falling ill due to viral fever, dengue and chikungunya,” said Ravinder Chibber, a resident.