Kishtwar village grapples with acute water shortage

Hanzal (Marwah), Sep 29: In the far-flung sub-division of Marwah in Kishtwar district, residents of Hanzal village are grappling with an acute shortage of drinking water despite the much-hyped Jal Jeevan Mission scheme.

According to locals of Hanzal village in Marwah sub division, women are compelled to fetch drinking water from nearby streams and rivers as taps in the village run dry.

The residents allege that employees of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) sub-division Dachhan have been neglecting their duties, resulting in wastage of water through leaking pipelines.

They said that in Hanzal, which is about 17 km from Marwah tehsil and sub division headquarter, drinking water meant for over 100 households, is being wasted as leaking pipes spill it into drains, while nearly 20 families living in the lower part of the village are left struggling for a single drop of it.

“The pipelines beneath the Marwah-Hanzal road are damaged and water is flowing straight into drains. Despite repeated requests, PHE staff have failed to repair them and ensure supply to our homes,” said one of the aggrieved residents.

Local women further alleged that around two dozen families were the worst sufferers of this negligence, with both men and women forced to fetch water daily from the Marwah river.

“We have been bringing this issue to the notice of PHE staff for the last two months, but they have turned a blind eye,” residents complained, urging the Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar and the Executive Engineer PHE Division Kishtwar to intervene and take action against the negligent officials posted in Hanzal village of PHE sub division Dachan.

Despite several attempts, the Junior Engineer could not be contacted for official comments.