Protests erupt in Kupwara area over lack of drinking water supply

Kupwara, July 3: The residents of several villages in "Kandi B" area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district Wednesday protested against Jal Shakti Department for failing to provide them drinking water for the last several years.

"Kandi B" which comprises of eleven villages including Sadhu Ganga, Malkhah Pati, Woontiwara, Hajam Mohalla, Salam Abad, Bhat Mohalla, Baba Muqam, Kumar Mohalla, Labu Mohalla, Magray Mohalla and Reshi Muqam complained that they were reeling under acute shortage of water from past several years but authorities have failed to take any tangible measures despite repeated pleas.

Residents said that due to non availability of tap water they were forced to use contaminated water from the local streams which pose threat to their life and in recent past several persons have fallen ill due to water borne diseases.

They said that even the wells and ponds have dried up in the area thereby multiplying hardships for locals.

"We have been moving from pillar to post to get this genuine demand redressed, but to no avail," a local from Kandi area told Greater Kashmir.

He said that over five thousand people were suffering due to lack of drinking water in "Kandi B".

"Although a bore well was approved in 2021 to meet the demand of people, the work on it was going at snail's pace. Don't know when our hardships will end," said another local.

The protesters said that they were facing tremendous hardships due to the non-availability of water. “The department has miserably failed to provide water supply to over five hundred households. Infact the department has taken us on a ride, forcing us to register our protest," said a woman protestor.