The 4,000 inhabitants of the nondescript villages in Kandi area, about 20 km from Chandigarh, believed the dam will usher in prosperity by making drinking water accessible, provide water for irrigation and increase water-level in the area.

Eighteen years on, they are still waiting for that promise to be fulfilled. Although, the Centre-funded dam had come up, neglect led to its downfall. The dam was washed away within one year of its construction.

“Due to incessant rains that year, the dam was filled beyond capacity. The concerned officials were supposed to release the extra water but nobody bothered to visit the dam. One night, we heard a deafening sound and the next morning we found the dam gone,” recollects Sarpanch Bachna Ram of village Krondewal.

Partap Singh, Executive Engineer, Public Health Mohali, said: “The incident happened 18 years ago and the area was not under my charge. I cannot tell you why the dam was washed away but one thing is sure -no enquiry was conducted into the matter.”

A health official, on condition of anonymity, said the matter was hushed up to avoid action against the officials concerned.

As of now, the villagers depend on water from a shallow well.

“The water supply is for just about an hour a day. The situation is worse in the summers. Sometimes, people fall ill after consuming water from the well,” said Piare Lal, a villager.

Gurbachan Singh of Kasoli village said that the produce had declined in last decade due to lack of irrigation facilities.

“We are fully dependent on rainwater. The average annual rainfall in this area is just 1,000 mm. Had the dam not been washed away, there would have been no water scarcity in the area,” he said.

The dam with 12-metre height and 110-metre top length was constructed with a catchment area of 73.19 hectares.

The dam proposed to fulfill the water requirement — 2,43,200 gallons per day — of the area.

Deputy Commissioner H I S Grewal could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

Public Health minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia assured that an enquiry will be conducted into the matter.