Protest erupts in Delina over water shortage

Baramulla, Feb 26: The residents of Rawathpora Delina in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district staged a protest on Monday against the shortage of tap water in their locality.

The protesters blocked the Baramulla-Srinagar highway for several hours with the result the traffic movement on the highway came to standstill for several hours. The protesters said that the Rawathpora locality is without drinking water for over 20 days. They said that the shortage of the drinking water has caused severe hardships to the residents here.

While criticising the Jal Shakti department Baramulla for their irresponsible approach, the aggrieved residents said that during the drinking water shortage, the officials of the Jal Shakti department don’t bother to send water tankers to the area which could have eased their hardships.

“The tap water shortage has affected the locals here immensely,” said Muhammad Iqbal, a local resident. “The officials of the concerned department should have at least made water tankers available in the area,” he added.

The protest caused massive traffic jams on the Baramulla-Srinagar highway at Delina. The long line of vehicles caused hardships to the passengers. It was only after the intervention of the police who assured the protesters that their grievance would be taken up with the officials of the concerned department that protesters suspended their demonstration.