Umaisar Gull Ganie
Kulgam, Sep 15: The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) launched by the Government of India with an aim to ensure tap water connections to every household, has brought smiles on the faces of villagers in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, as the residents after seven decades of Independence have received piped water supply for the first time.
Hakkradan, a village in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, has received piped drinking water for the first time, under the government’s Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). The villagers of Hakkradan, located 25 kilometers from the district headquarters, had to travel long distances to fetch drinking water from far-off sources.
However, with the commissioning of the new piped water supply scheme, they will now be able to get clean drinking water at their doorsteps.
The villagers are overjoyed with the new development, saying that it will save them a lot of time and effort, and they will no longer have to worry about the quality of drinking water.
Farooq Ahmad Bakshi, village Numberdar said, “For generations, we have yearned for a day when our village would no longer need to travel long distances to get drinking water. Today, that dream has become a reality, thanks to the government’s unwavering commitment to improving the lives of rural citizens.”
He said the village, with its 55 households, has welcomed a long-awaited transformation. “The arrival of water supply, for the first time, has filled our hearts with happiness and renewed hope for a brighter future.”
Gulshana Banoo, a local woman, recalled those challenging days, saying, “We have faced unimaginable difficulties for over seven decades. In the bitter winter cold, we had to risk our safety to bring water. There were times when we fell on the icy ground, and some of us suffered fractures and injuries. But we had no choice.”
She said they are very happy that the piped drinking water has finally been ensured to the villagers, adding that the new water supply scheme will also help to improve the hygiene and sanitation conditions in the village.
“We used to get water from far-off sources, and it was often contaminated. The new water supply scheme will provide us with clean drinking water,” she added.
Assistant Executive Engineer Jal Shakti (PHE) Qazigund Sub-Division Rafiq Ahmad Bhat said, “Under the Jal Jeevan Mission flagship scheme program, piped drinking water supply has been provided to over 100 percent of households in Hakkradan locality.”
He said the commissioning of the piped drinking water supply scheme in Hakradan village will go a long way in improving the lives of the villagers.
The AEE underscores the significance of using this precious resource judiciously and responsibly.
“Let us remember that water is a finite resource, and its conservation is a responsibility we all share. We must not squander this newfound privilege but rather use it wisely,” he said.
