Rahan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, May 28: Amidst the intense heat wave in Jammu & Kashmir, several areas across Srinagar have been grappling with a severe water scarcity over the past few days, prompting the residents to stage protests in the areas including Batamaloo and Padshahi Bagh on Tuesday.
The residents, took to the streets and staged a protest to express their resentment against the water scarcity in their area.
They said that the inadequate water supply amidst the persistent heat wave has been pushing them to the wall. “We are facing immense hardships in absence of the water supply especially at a time when the scorching heat has witnessed a rise in the Valley,” the residents said.
They appealed to the concerned authorities to look into the matter and ensure that the adequate water supply is provided to them.
Chief Engineer of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Kashmir, Vivek Kohli, said that the water level in the key water treatment plants like Ranguil has dropped significantly.
“This decline is attributed to the Sind extension canal, which supplies water to these plants, also being utilized by the Department of irrigation. The additional demand has led to a lower water level in the canal,” he said.
Kohli added the situation is being addressed and said it as a “minor issue” that will be resolved shortly. “We have coordinated with the Power Development Corporation, and we expect the water supply to be restored to normal within the next 2 to 3 days,” he said.
