Six Pulwama villages face drinking water shortage

Pulwama, Oct 15: Residents of six villages in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district are facing severe hardships due to the disruption of drinking water supply following repeated motor burnouts at the water supply infrastructure maintained by the Mechanical Wing of Jal Shakti Department, PHE Awantipora.
The affected villages include Awanpora, Chersoo, Sail, Larmoh, Nesbal, Poshwan and Gadikhal, where residents have expressed resentment over the recurring breakdowns, alleging that the problem has left them struggling to arrange drinking water for their daily needs.
Residents said that the motor installed at the water supply facility has burnt out three times within just 25 days, raising questions about the reasons behind the repeated failures and the measures being taken by the concerned department to ensure an uninterrupted water supply.
The disruption, they said, has added to their difficulties, forcing them to look for alternative sources of drinking water while waiting for the department to resolve the issue.
Locals said the repeated breakdowns have particularly affected the operation of the Overhead Tank (OHT) facilities at Larmoo and Gadikhal, further aggravating the situation in the adjoining areas dependent on the water supply system.
Arshid Bhat, a local social activist, said the recurring failures had caused considerable inconvenience to residents and called for immediate intervention by the higher authorities.
“It is unfortunate that the motor has reportedly burnt out three times in just 25 days, leaving people in several villages to suffer due to the disruption of drinking water supply. The department must explain why these repeated failures are occurring and what steps are being taken to prevent them,” Bhat said.
He said residents could not be left to suffer indefinitely because of recurring technical problems and demanded that the department restore the water supply without further delay.
“The people need drinking water, not repeated assurances or paperwork. The concerned authorities must take the issue seriously, identify the reasons behind the frequent motor burnouts and fix responsibility wherever negligence is established,” he added.
Residents have also sought an explanation from the Mechanical Wing of the Jal Shakti Department regarding the repeated failures, demanding that the equipment be properly examined and necessary corrective measures taken to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
They urged senior officials to conduct an inquiry into the recurring motor burnouts and ensure that adequate arrangements are made to provide regular drinking water to all the affected villages.
The residents stressed that access to safe drinking water was a basic necessity and called for prompt action to prevent further inconvenience to the public.
They appealed to the concerned authorities to intervene immediately, restore the supply and ensure that the issue does not recur. (KNO)