Bandipora village remains deprived of piped water supply

Bandipora, July 10: A small hamlet in north Kashmir's Bandipora district has been kept devoid of piped water supply, despite being a source for two water supply schemes.

The 50 households in Shungloo area of Pautshay village, are lamenting the authorities' indifference towards their plight.

Mohammad Ismail Dar, 60, a resident of Shungloo area, said, "We're located just one kilometre from main Pautshay village and border Mangnipora."

"But whenever development works are conducted in Pautshay, our area is ignored, with authorities claiming we fall under Mangnipora village and vice-versa, when projects are picked up for Mangnipora," Dar said.

This conflict, villagers said, has cost the villagers of basic amenities, including piped water.

"Two water supply schemes operate just 100 yards away from our area, but we don't get a drop of water for consumption," Dar said. "It's like 'darkness under the lamp'."

Dar, flanked by other villagers, claimed that the water supply reservoirs cater to Pautshay and Laharwalpora villages, kilometres away, but they've been left to fend for themselves.

"Our area consists of fourty or fifty houses," Dar said, adding, they have been "ignored" with regards to piped water for "several years now."

Despite raising the issue with the DDC member "hundreds of times", nothing has changed, the villagers claimed.

The villagers made a "plea" to the Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, urging him to intervene and provide