Sopore, Sep 18 (KNO): Amid scorching heat, people in Sopore have been complaining about shortage of water supply with blame falling on Jal Shakti department for failing to address their grievance.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the inhabitants of Sopore town and in peripheries, have been accusing the Jal Shakhti department in Sopore for failing to deliver them adequate drinking water supplies which results in inconvenience to them.
"We are suffering immensely. Once summer approaches, the area faces a decline in drinking water supply", Krankshivan colony residents said, adding that, It's quite strange that the department is providing supply to the area on alternate days and that too for an hour or two.
They said that they have to buy private water tankers which cost them Rs 3000/tanker to meet their daily needs.
"The area is suffering for several years. Earlier we used to get the water tankers on roaster basis, however, that too was stopped by the department with reasons best known to them. There's no one to listen us", said Bashir Ahmed.
Apart from the town, Zaingeer and Rafiabad parts of the sub-divsion are complaining of the same. The most affected areas include Hadipora, Behrampora, Shangargund, Warpora and others.
Asenior official at the department acknowledged to KNO that the town is currently grappling with the severe water crises, resulting into the miseries to people.
"We are facing water crunch in general at the moment and water tankers too have been pressed into the service to meet the needs. But due to less number of tankers, people do not get services as per requirement,” said AEE Jal Shakti Sopore.
The demands are high and only three tankers are in the division which are supply water to affected areas. "On an average, the demand for tankers is above 100 but it it not possible to meet it. We have written to higher ups for additional tankers to meet the needs", he added.
Protests over water scarcity has been reported time and again in the sub division including Zaingeer and Rafiabad parts.
On Monday, residents of Shangargund hit the streets and blocked the traffic movement on Sopore - Kupwara highway, demanding the adequate supplies amid scorching temperature. The residents while accusing department of being incompetent in resolving the issue said that their pleas seems to fell on deaf ears—(KNO)