Ganderbal, Dec 25 (KNO): Dedicated officials of the Jal Shakti Department in Ganderbal are working relentlessly to ensure that taps don’t turn dry despite temperatures falling well below the freezing point.
According to the details available with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) the employees are facing a double challenge due to unprecedented cold temperatures i.e. depleted water sources and the freezing of headworks.
An official said, “Kashmir has received minimal rainfall since July 2024. Our department has been struggling with a significant reduction in discharge from local springs and streams. We have been taking proactive measures such as constructing diversion bunds and laying additional pipelines to augment the flow of water to meet the demand.”
He said the ongoing cold wave and the temperature plummeting to as low as -10°C has made situation “more difficult.” “Every day, employees of our department brave slippery mountain terrain to reach the frozen water sources and manually clear the ice to restore the water supply to filtration plants and, ultimately, to the consumers,” the official added.
Pertinently, recently a video showing an employee of Jal Shakti Department scaling a treacherous, icy mountain in the Sonmarg area went viral on the social media.
While talking to KNO Er. Samiullah Beigh, Executive Engineer of the Jal Shakti Department Ganderbal said that the task depicted in the video is part of the daily routine for the employees of his department throughout the Union Territory, especially in Ganderbal. “We are trying our best to mitigate the difficulties faced by the public during this prolonged dry spell and severe cold,” he added.
Er. Beigh highlighted that the employee in the video, Mukhtar Ahmad, is one of the many dedicated workers who go above and beyond to ensure uninterrupted water supply in the Sonmarg area and its surroundings.
He assured the public that the department will continue to take all necessary actions to guarantee smooth water supply across Ganderbal, despite the ongoing challenges posed by the weather.
Er. Beigh also urged local residents to insulate their domestic pipe systems to prevent freezing and ensure consistent access to water from the PHE network
Locals while talking to KNO said, "Amidst the harsh minus temperatures, the Jal Shakti Department has gone above and beyond to restore water supply across Ganderbal district. We deeply appreciate their tireless efforts and dedication in ensuring that the community continues to receive this essential service, even in the most challenging of condition”—(KNO)