HISAR: Fresh tension erupted in Channot village of Hansi late Monday night after the district administration removed an allegedly illegal T-point connection from a drinking water pipeline passing through the village, triggering protests that led police to use tear gas shells and lathicharge to control the situation.The late-night operation, carried out around 1. 30am in the presence of Hansi deputy commissioner Rahul Narwal and superintendent of police Vinod Kumar, reignited the long-standing Channot water dispute.Officials used JCB machines and hydraulic equipment to uproot the unauthorised connection from the under-construction pipeline, drawing resistance from villagers gathered at the site.As the crowd swelled and tensions escalated, police fired tear gas shells and resorted to lathicharge.Assistant sub-inspector Pritam Singh of Bass police station sustained a head injury during the confrontation and was admitted to Hansi Civil Hospital. Additional police forces were deployed from nearby areas to prevent further escalation. Village representatives alleged that women were also injured during the police action.The confrontation came just three days after celebrations in Channot, where villagers believed their long-pending demand for a water connection had been accepted. Residents had beaten metal plates and distributed sweets after announcements were made that the government had agreed to their demands, following which a T-point connection was installed on the pipeline.On Saturday, former Sarpanch Association president Somesh Kumar reportedly visited the protest site and informed villagers that he had come as a government representative and that their demands had been accepted. He also claimed work on the T-point connection had begun and would be integrated with the pipeline project. Following this, five elderly protesters reportedly ended their indefinite hunger strike.However, district authorities denied any agreement the next day, stating that no approval had been granted for the connection. An FIR was subsequently registered over alleged tampering with the drinking water pipeline.Late Monday night, authorities returned with heavy police deployment and removed the T-point, reiterating that it was unauthorised. Villagers objected, insisting that the government had already accepted their demands. Despite the protests, the administrative team dismantled the connection and removed it from the site.The dispute has been simmering for several weeks. Villagers began protesting on May 16, demanding access to drinking water from the Bhakra supply system. On June 1, tensions flared after villagers allegedly attempted to damage the pipeline using iron rods and hammers and blocked the Hansi–Barwala road.The pipeline project at the centre of the dispute involves laying a nearly 30-km drinking water pipeline from Rajli Bhakra Head in Barwala to Hansi city under the AMRUT scheme, at a cost of around Rs 80 crore. While the pipeline passes through Channot village, the administration maintains that the project is designed solely to meet Hansi city’s drinking water requirements.Deputy commissioner Rahul Narwal defended the action, stating that the T-point was illegal and any unauthorised connection to the main pipeline constituted a violation of law. He said clean drinking water would still be provided to Channot village through an alternative arrangement.According to Narwal, work has already begun on laying a separate pipeline from Rajli Head to the village, with a target of supplying water to every household within three months. He added that nearly Rs 7.5 crore has been sanctioned to strengthen the village’s drinking water infrastructure.Inspector General of Police Kuldeep Kumar said the connection was removed through due legal process and that a case had been registered against six named individuals and others. While assuring that the administration remained committed to addressing villagers’ water needs, he warned that strict action would be taken against anyone attempting to disturb law and order.
