Score of households in Shopian rue lack of potable water, stage protest

Shopian, May 23: Scores of households in south Kashmir’s Shopian town are grappling with an acute water crisis for the past two weeks, forcing residents to take to the streets in protest. On Thursday, women from Bongam locality staged a protest demonstration against the Jal Shakti Department, blocking a road to draw attention to their plight.

Shouting slogans, the demonstrators expressed anguish over the department’s failure to restore drinking water supply despite repeated pleas. “We have been without potable water for the last 15 days and nobody is paying attention to our sufferings,” said a protesting woman. “Our children are falling ill and we are forced to fetch water from unsafe sources amid this sweltering heat.” Residents allege that officials have been indifferent to their grievances, even after several complaints were registered.

They said that the prolonged disruption in water supply has affected their daily life, impacting sanitation and health.

"We are unable to do our dishes and laundry amidst hot and humid weather conditions", said the protesters. The protesters urged the administration to intervene immediately and restore the water supply before the situation worsens.

Abdul Rashid, Executive Engineer, Jal Shakti Department told Greater Kashmir that the water supply would be restored soon. He, however, advised consumers to use the water judiciously.