Jahangeer Ganaie
Pulwama, Jul 29: A water supply scheme in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district is functioning without a filtration plant forcing residents to drink contaminated water.
Residents of Alochibagh, Pampore in Pulwama said that the water supply scheme has been functional in the area since more than a decade and work on the filtration plant was started in 2012 but is yet to be completed.
They said that in absence of a filtration plant, water from rivers is directly being supplied to them which is highly contaminated.
A local Bilal Ahmad said that since the last 10 years, they are forced to drink contaminated water from the river which is highly contaminated.
“We have tested the water being supplied to us multiple times and every time doctors declare it unsafe but we don’t have any other alternative so we are forced to consume the same,” said Ab Hamid, a local resident.
He said that by consuming contaminated water, people of the area often get sick.
Locals said that they have taken up this issue with higher ups several times to no avail.
They said that the filtration plant is almost ready but due to unknown reasons work isn’t being completed on it.
They requested higher ups to look into the matter and make the plant functional so that locals too can get potable water.
Meanwhile the residents of Gouri Mohalla, Zameendar Mohalla of Ratnipora village in Pulwama said that they are facing acute shortage of water but there is no intervention from higher ups in this regard.
Javid Ahmad, a resident of Zamindar Mohalla said that they are facing a lot of problems due to shortage of water and had to travel long distances to fetch water.
He said that we have been suffering for years but some temporary arrangements were made for some time but we again have been suffering.
“We have been suffering in absence of water and despite repeated reminders to concerned authorities no attention has been given towards it,” said Gulzar Ahmad, another resident.
He said that despite protests and repeated visits to the office of concerned authorities nothing is being done on ground.
Locals said that Ratnipora is a historical village but it has been kept very behind on developmental fronts especially in drinking water facilities.
“We have brought this issue to the notice of higher ups hundreds of times but no action on ground is being taken up,” they said.
They requested concerned authorities to look into the matter at an earliest so that locals can heave a sigh of relief.
