40 per cent of Budgam still without clean drinking water

Srinagar, Sep 6: A severe shortage of clean drinking water has plunged central Kashmir’s Budgam district into crisis, with nearly 40% of the population as per the official sources still deprived of potable water despite repeated pleas to authorities.
Residents across the district have accused the Jal Shakti department of failing to provide basic water supply, raising concerns over the efficacy of filtration plants and the overall management of the region’s water infrastructure.
According to reports, Budgam has been grappling with an acute water crisis following several days of relentless rainfall. The heavy downpour has resulted in streams like Doodh Ganga Nallah and others becoming heavily contaminated with mud, debris, and waste—rendering the water undrinkable and unfit for daily use.
Ironically, the Jal Shakti department continues to draw water from these very streams for its filtration plants, attempting to treat and distribute it to households. However, residents say that the filtration process is failing to meet the community’s needs, leaving nearly two-fifths of the district’s population without access to safe water. The crisis has been particularly acute in several villages across Sub-Division Beerwah, Khad, and other areas, where both people and livestock are at risk.
“Even our animals are falling sick due to the contaminated water being supplied,” a resident said.
Locals also report that broken pipes and poorly maintained infrastructure are compounding the problem. “There is no proper filtration system in our area. Pipes are broken in several places and go unrepaired for weeks, which lets dirty water seep in and leads to further wastage. We are forced to drink foul-smelling, contaminated water because we have no alternative,” locals said.
The continued lack of a functional sanitation plant in many affected villages has resulted in a spike in waterborne illnesses. Despite repeated appeals from villagers and community leaders, no new sanitation infrastructure has been installed, and effective steps to address the crisis remain absent.
“The main purpose of the water supply scheme is to provide clean drinking water, but so far, the Jal Shakti department has failed to deliver on this basic promise. Officials are rarely available for explanation, and even when complaints are raised, no meaningful action is taken,” locals told KNO.
As the water crisis deepens, affected communities are demanding urgent intervention from the government. “We urge the administration to act immediately and restore clean water supply to all affected areas,” residents said, warning that continued inaction could lead to a public health emergency. (KNO)