Drinking water crises: Sopore faces shortage of 80 lakh litres daily, tanker support inadequate

Sopore, Jul 8: Amid soaring summer temperatures and mounting public frustration, Sopore town in north Kashmir is facing an alarming drinking water deficit of nearly 80 lakh litres per day, with rural areas adding another 30 lakh litres to the shortfall.
Sopore town, which comprises 21 municipal wards, requires much more than the current capacity to meet its basic water needs. “We are bearing the brunt and with such a massive shortfall, it is becoming impossible to manage,” an official from the Jal Shakti Department, on condition of anonymity said.
To bridge the gap, authorities have been relying heavily on water tankers. However, only three tankers are currently operational, far short of the minimum 10 required to serve the township. “Out of the three, one is reserved for security forces and government offices, which leaves just two for the entire civilian population,” the official added. “These tankers are also in poor condition and require constant repairs.”
While six tankers were hired for short durations over the past two years, officials within the department admit this was a temporary and inadequate fix. “We always project the need for more tankers, but only a small budget is sanctioned during peak summer months,” a senior insider said. “Ideally, three tankers should be hired on a yearly basis, but that hasn’t happened.”
Amid the growing crisis, officials are pinning hopes on the AMRUT 2.0 (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) project, which is expected to be implemented soon. “For the first time, the department will tap the Jhelum River as a source for supplying drinking water to the town. This could significantly improve the situation in the long run,” an engineer supervising the project said.
The ongoing crisis has sparked a wave of protests across various parts of the town. Residents, particularly women and elderly, have taken to the streets, accusing the authorities of turning a blind eye to their plight. “We have been forced to buy water or walk long distances to fetch it. This is unacceptable in 2025,” said Naseerabad residents.
Several other localities in Sopore are also bearing the brunt of the worsening water crisis.
Until long-term projects like AMRUT 2.0 come to fruition, locals fear their suffering will continue unabated, especially as climate change and rising temperatures exacerbate the demand.
It is noteworthy that, MLA Sopore Irshad Rasool Kar on Tuesday convened a crucial meeting with Jal Shakti Department officials, stressing the urgent need to restore and upgrade existing water supply schemes across the constituency.
Expressing concern over the hardships faced by residents, the MLA Kar, directed officials to submit a comprehensive report on infrastructure gaps and delayed projects. The department assured immediate short-term interventions along with long-term solutions under government-approved schemes. (KNO)