Kupwara villagers stage protest against water scarcity

Kupwara, Jan 24: Dozens of vehicles were stranded Wednesday after the residents of Tikker area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district blocked the Kupwara-Karnah road to protest against the Jal Shakti Department for failing to provide them tap water for the last one week.

The protesters, including women, assembled at the road and blocked it for some time while chanting anti-department slogans.  The protesting women said that they were facing tremendous hardships due to the non-availability of water from the last seven days.

“The department has miserably failed to provide water supply to over hundred households. Infact the department has taken us on ride, forcing us to register our protest," said a woman protestor.

"At least the concerned department should deploy a water tanker to our village till the tap water is restored. Even though we don't have water for washing and cooking, still the officials are watching as mute spectators," she added.

The residents appealed to the concerned department to provide them potable drinking water at the earliest so that the hardships being faced by the people may end.

Later a police party reached the spot and pacified the protestors following which they dispersed peacefully.