Jahangeer Ganaie
Pulwama, Aug 3: The residents of Arigam village in Tral hamlet of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district have complained of potable water scarcity for the “last many years”.
The residents said that they used to receive “highly contaminated” water from the existing water supply scheme and after hectic efforts, a new scheme was approved for the area in the year 2018.
“We are forced to visit Tral town to get water from a spring,” said Shakeel Ahmad, a local, adding that the work of the new water supply scheme is yet to be started.
“We get contaminated water here, and are forced to tread several kilometers to fetch water from a spring at the main town Tral,” he said.
The residents said they have several times brought the issue to the notice of the authorities but to no avail.
Last year, after we highlighted the issue, two public posts were installed but they aren’t enough to cater to the whole village, they said.
They have requested the Jal Shakti Department to look into the matter and take immediate steps to provide potable water to the area.
An official of the Jal Shakti Department while acknowledging the shortage of potable water in the village said a new scheme was approved years back to address the issue.
“First, nobody provided land for the new scheme; later, when the land was identified and a well was dug, it collapsed,” the official said.
He said the officials have re-tendered the work and the project was allotted; however, due to some technical issues, the work didn’t start.
“The department is on it and the work on the new water supply scheme will start soon,” he said.
