Water crisis worsens across Srinagar

Srinagar, Jul 6: The drinking water crisis has deepened in several parts of Srinagar leaving the people in lurch.
Residents from multiple localities including Habba Kadal, Fateh Kadal, Chotta Bazar, Guru Bazar, Karfali Mohalla, Qamarwari and adjoining areas, besides several uptown localities such as Karan Nagar, Batmaloo and Natipora, said that prolonged disruption in potable water supply has left them to fend on their own amid the scorching summer.
They said that they have been receiving little to no drinking water for the past several days, forcing families to fetch water from private sources, rely on neighbours or purchase water for daily use.
Shafiq Ahmed Mir, of Karfali Mohalla, said, “There has been no proper water supply in our area. People are facing immense hardship and are struggling even for drinking water. The authorities must restore the supply without any further delay.”
Ashiq Khan, another resident of Chotta Bazar, said the crisis has affected every aspect of life. “We have no drinking water in our homes and now have to rely on packaged drinking water purchased from outside. What is the point of having tap connections in our homes and paying water bills?” he asked.
Residents of Guru Bazar and Karan Nagar further alleged that despite repeated complaints, the situation remains unchanged.
Mukhtar Wani, of Qamarwari, said many households have exhausted their stored water.
“Routine household work has come to a standstill. People are struggling even for drinking water and are depending on private arrangements. The authorities must act immediately,” he said.
Residents from Batmaloo, Natipora and Rawalpora also voiced similar grievances, alleging that unreliable water supply has become a routine affair during the peak summer season.
When contacted, a Superintending Engineer of the Jal Shakti Department told KNO that there was no major issue with the overall water supply system.
Meanwhile, an official from the PHE wing said the grievance mechanism receives around 10 to 20 complaints every day regarding water supply.
“The highest number of complaints are received from areas fed by the Dodhganga Water Treatment Plant, including Rawalpora, Rajbagh, Kursu Rajbagh and the Batmaloo belt. Around 10 to 20 water tankers are dispatched daily to localities from where complaints are received. As far as Downtown is concerned, there is no water supply issue at the departmental level,” the official said.
The affected residents urged the Jal Shakti Department to immediately restore regular drinking water supply and take long-term measures to prevent recurring disruptions, saying access to safe drinking water is a basic necessity that cannot be compromised. (KNO)