Drinking water shortage

Amid the ongoing heatwave the problem of drinking water shortage is affecting more areas and more people. The Jal Shakti Department recently said that the shortage in some parts of Srinagar, especially the tail end areas is due to the rise in temperature and increase in the consumption/drawls of water supply. The officials appealed the people to use the water judiciously. A plea was made to consumers not to waste water or misuse it for kitchen gardens, lawns or washing the vehicles. The consumers were also urged not to use online boosters so that there is equitable distribution of water in the respective areas. The department also provided telephone numbers for contacting the officials in case of the water shortage. The pleas or the directives by the Jal Shakti Department have to be followed. The water should not be wasted or misused. Otherwise there will be more problems.

Besides giving directions and making pleas, the concerned department must address the increasing water shortage problem with other measures also. The water supply has to be improved. There are reports of acute drinking water shortage in some rural areas. The people say they have the tap connections but not the water. Some remote areas are without any pipe and tap connections and subsequently not getting drinking water supply. The Jal Shakti Department has launched a mission to provide tap connection to 100 percent households.

This mission must be speedily completed. Besides completing the mission, adequate water supply has to be made available to consumers. There is no fun laying pipes and giving tap connections if the required water supply is not provided. The people in some areas say that they are forced to fetch water from other sources including streams, which are sometimes polluted. Subsequently, the water borne diseases affect them. There is a need to set up more water supply schemes. Such facilities must be provided wherever needed. Secondly, the defunct water supply system have to be made operational again. Water tankers must be sent to areas facing water shortage. Safe and clean water should be supplied to the people in any case.