Sajid Raina
Bandipora, Oct 28: Residents of Pethkot village in Bandipora district blocked Gurez-Bandipora road for hours on Saturday to protest against shortage of water.
Gh Rasool, a local resident said that they had protested several times against water scarcity in the area but authorities are turning blind towards their problem.
He also said that earlier they were dependent on local streams for drinking water supply but after the Kishanganga power project, authorities have merged the local streams for the project resulting in the streams to dry up.
“Claiming ‘Har Ghar Jal’ is only the slogan which suits on banners and in advertisements nothing such happened on ground. We have been struggling for basic water facilities for years. Nobody cares for poor peoples,”Khatija, one of the protesting women, said.
Officials who visited the protesting site said that the locals are raising the genuine issue and assured that their issue will be resolved soon.
After officials intervention and assurance, the protest was called off.
