Sajid Raina
Bandipora : At least four hundred households in Hajin villages of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district are facing acute scarcity over the past nine years, thus leaving the residents anguished.
The residents from Kosum-Bagh, Hakbara and its adjoining areas in Hajin complained that they have been facing the water shortage problem for the last nine years.
The residents said that ten years back, a low capacity Water Supply Scheme was established there following which the concerned authorities didn’t pay any attention to it, as a result of which it is getting dilapidated.
They said that the low capacity water supply scheme in their area should have been upgraded so that the entire population depends upon it, will get clean water.
Ishfaq Ahmad, a local resident from the area said they are without drinking water facilities. “We approached the concerned authorities several times and urged them to upgrade the water supply scheme as its capacity is too low but to no avail,” he said.
He said the people of the area are being forced to use the dirty water, which is being used for irrigating paddy fields. “There is no stipulated time to supply water to these villages. The residents have to wait for hours around the tap. Whenever water is supplied, people are being forced to fetch one or two pots for the whole day. This situation has led to residents picking up quarrels,” Ishfaq said.
Water should be supplied on a daily basis at a particular time during the morning as well as evening, at least for two some hours, they demanded, adding that the officials should monitor the process on a regular basis to take necessary action if there are any issues with drinking water supply.
Meanwhile, the villagers urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to personally look into the matter and help resolve the problem being faced by the large population.
An official from Jal-Shakti department when contracted, told KNO that the department has prepared a proposal for upgradation of water supply scheme for these village—(KNO)
