The previous BJP government’s much-hyped “Har Ghar Ko Nal” ended as a political slogan with its term in 2012. The present Congress government has not come out with a pragmatic drinking water policy for as many as 23,693 habitations. About 45 per cent habitations in the state have yet to get a regular potable water supply, charged Himachal Kisan Sabha (HKS), a CPM outfit. It is like living “nearer to the church, farther away from God” for a majority of the villagers in surrounding villages, most of these in the Kasumpati constituency that straddles the border with the capital city. Water as a poll issue has takers among voters not only in the Shimla Lok Sabha constituency, but also in all three constituencies -- Mandi, Kangra and Hamirpur. The villagers face water problem both for drinking and the over 52 lakh cattle and livestock, the mainstay of animal husbandry and shepherding in villages. “The IPH supplies dry up here in the summer and winter months and we don’t get enough water for drinking these days,” said Rama Nand and Mohal Singh, residents of Dharech in Kasumpati segment, which was earlier part of Theog, and has now been renamed as the Kumarsain constituency represented by IPH Minister Vidya Stokes. Most of the water-deficient areas are populated by Dalits and those from backward castes, claimed Dr Kuldip Tanvar, state president, HKS. He cited the government data on water problems in the state. In fact, there were 53,604 habitations in the state of which 23,693 had no regular water supply and most of the IPH schemes ran dry due to the contractor-IPH staff nexus, Dr Tanvar charged. Not only this, as many as 7 lakh families in the state had switched over to growing off-season vegetables. But till today, 81.5 per cent farmers depended on rain for irrigation, added Satender Chauhan, a member of the HKS. The HKS blamed the Congress for its failure to put in place a water policy in the state despite being in power for decades together. "The Chief Minister is talking about zero-tolerance to corruption and we expect that the deep-rooted nexus of thekedars and IPH staff should be removed," Dr Tanvar alleged. Denying the HKS’s charges, Congressmen claimed the government had planned to provide regular water supply in about 2,500 habitations this year alone. The gravity water schemes and water lifting schemes for both drinking and irrigation were formulated before the model code of conduct came into force in the state, said Harish Janartha, a Congress leader.