Waris Fayaz
Sopore, Nov 2: The ChakRodey Khan villagers in Sopore on Thursday blocked Sopore Fruit Mandi road to protest lack of drinking water supply in their area.
The residents said that they are living a miserable life due to the absence of a drinking water facility for the last two decades.
The residents said that they are forced to drink contaminated water which is affecting their health.
A resident named Asmat accused the Jal Shakti Department of turning a blind eye to their plight saying they have also taken to the streets in the past to no avail.
Feeling the brunt of the water scarcity in their everyday lives, the inhabitants said that fetching drinking water has become a daunting task as they have to walk far distances to collect water.
“The department had a word with us of providing water tankers after every third day, but that too didn’t last long. It has been months together now the department left us on God’s mercy”, they said.
“We have to bring water tankers and pay for it from our own pockets. This has to end,” they added.
The issue pertains with the tail end areas only, rest are getting the supply as per the schedule, a Jal Shakti official said.
Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), JSD Sopore, Mudasir Ahmed said that the area is being provided water tankers on humanitarian grounds saying, “People are reluctant in paying their pending dues”.
He acknowledged the area is facing the problem, saying that they are going to resolve the issue in the second phase of the Amrut scheme. “It will take time to get their issue resolved till then they will be provided water tankers”, the official added.
