Kralgund area grapples with lack of drinking water

The residents of Shiekh Mohalla, Kralgund area in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district are badly suffering due to lack of tap water with the result they are forced to use contaminated water from a local stream.

The village just a few kilometres away from the tehsil headquarter Kralgund was reeling under acute shortage of water for the past several years, but authorities have failed to take any tangible measure despite repeated pleas.

Residents said that due to non availability of tap water they are forced to use contaminated water from a local stream which always poses a threat to their life and in recent past several persons have fallen ill due to water borne diseases.

“We are forced to walk several kms to and fro everyday to fetch water from a nearby canal but the concerned department is watching our hardships as mute spectators. We are unable to figure out why the government is insensitive pertaining to our long pending issue," said a local.

"We have been moving from pillar to post to get this genuine demand redressed but every time our pleas fall on deaf ears," he added.

The residents also complained about low lying electric wires and decaying poles. The residents said that they were living under constant threat due to low-lying transmission lines, which according to them, tied to rooftops of residential houses and trees at several places in the area.

They have sought immediate intervention of Additional Deputy Commissioner Handwara Aziz Ahmad Rather in this regard.