Drinking water shortage hits Srinagar areas

Srinagar, Aug 29: People of several areas of Srinagar are grappling with an acute water shortage despite incessant rains that led to waterlogging and flooding in parts of the city.

The crisis has left residents frustrated and questioning the preparedness and efficiency of the city’s water supply infrastructure.

From Bemina and Batmaloo to parts of Rajbagh, Jawahar Nagar, Habba Kadal, Gogji Bagh, Lal Bazar, and Noorbagh, residents reported dry taps and erratic water supply since the past week.

“Ironically, we are flooded with rainwater, yet we can’t get a drop in our taps to drink or cook,” said Zareefa Bano, a resident of Bemina. “Every morning we wake up hoping the taps will flow, but it’s been days. We’re forced to fetch water from nearby mosques or relatives who have borewells.”

Mohammad Yousuf, a resident of Noorbagh said that they are buying bottled water for drinking, and that’s not sustainable. It’s frustrating. “We pay our bills regularly, but in times of need, we are left to fend for ourselves.”

Residents blame clogged drains, overflowed sump wells, and unmaintained infrastructure for the disruption in supply. Many say the heavy rains worsened the condition by damaging already fragile pipelines and disrupting the filtration systems.

“There is water all around — on the roads, in our compounds, but not a single drop in the taps,” said Shabir Ahmad Dar, a resident of Qamarwari. This is unacceptable in a city like Srinagar.”

At Bemina, one of the worst-hit localities, residents say they have to rely on private water tankers or borrow water from mosques and neighbors with underground storage.

“This is the fifth day we have had no water. I have a family of six, including elderly parents. We are buying bottled water for drinking, but how long can that continue?” said Muneera Bano, a homemaker in Bemina. “We feel helpless.”

Residents of the Abi Guzar area of Lal Chowk also complained of water shortage. “The water supply we get for a few minutes is contaminated. A foul smell emanates from the drinking water supplied to us in pipes. We are living a miserable life due to water shortage,” they said.

Aggrieved people said that authorities failed to press water tankers into service. “We have been calling the helplines, but no one responds to our calls for water tankers,” they added.

When contacted, officials from the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department acknowledged the disruption, attributing it to damage caused by the recent rains.

“Due to continuous rainfall, many of our water treatment plants and pumping stations have been affected. Silt and debris have entered some of the filtration plants,” said the officials. “We are working round the clock to restore full services. Water tankers are being dispatched to the most affected localities.”