Mangat Ram Singhal is a congress MLA from Adarsh Nagar constituency in north Delhi. He has been working with the Congress since his college days. In the fourth legislative elections held in 2008, he was re-elected from the constituency he continues to head now. In the Delhi cabinet, he is responsible for the social welfare ministry, labour employment, law, justice and legislative affairs and elections.

We take a look at one of the projects he undertook in 2009 in his present tenure from the MLA local area development fund allotted to him.

Project: Installation and repair of deep bore handpump in Jahangirpuri Bharola and Sarai Pipla Thala village

Date of commencement: May 29, 2009

Status: Completed

Cost: Rs 15.01 lakh

Executing agency: Delhi Jal Board

People in the village complained constantly of lack of potable water. Taking note of these complaints, Singhal allotted over Rs 15 lakh for installation of three handpumps in the slum. Of the three handpumps, only one was functional. But the water from it could not be used for drinking purposes. The women from the nearby houses complained that the water is not even fit for bathing as one gets rashes. The saline content of the water, they complaint, is extremely high, therefore, it was no solution for their potable water problems. 

The second handpump in the locality was no more than a decorative item in the temple compound. It never worked even once since its installation and no effort was made on its repairs. The third handpump, which was installed right outside the main door of a house, was rooted out by the residents of the house as they complained of noise and disturbance due to its installation. The authorities did not bother to shift it in any other part of the slum.

The local party worker who took us to the area, though, was quick to defend Singhal. He said that the people themselves were responsible for the abysmal state of the handpumps as they never maintained them properly. "They only ask for the services. They never do much to keep these things in order," he said.