South Kashmir parts face acute water shortage

Shopian, July 25: Several villages in three districts of south Kashmir are facing an acute shortage of water due to a protracted dry spell coupled with an intense heatwave.

Residents from multiple villages of Pulwama, Shopian, and Kulgam districts are experiencing an acute shortage of drinking water, spurring them to walk long distances to fetch water.

The residents from Rathsuna, Sheikh Mohalla, Dar Ganie Gund, and Batapora Harri villages in Pulwama’s Tral area said that these villages had been facing a shortage of water for the last month.

The residents said that the ongoing dry spell had almost dried up all the streams and springs in the area, impacting the water supply.

“The water level in streams has significantly gone down, affecting the piped water supply,” said Aijaz Ahmad of Tral.

Meanwhile, the residents from Hanjipora, Kakapora village staged a protest against the authorities for failing to provide them with safe drinking water.

“In this scorching heat, we are walking long distances to fetch the water from streams,” said a woman protester.

She said that they were forced to consume contaminated water in the absence of piped water.

In the neighboring Shopian district, several localities including Gadda Mohalla, Tak Mohalla and Baptapora are facing severe shortages of water.

“We have no water to perform ablution, let alone taking a shower or doing laundry,” said a resident.

He said that the water crisis had severely hit several parts of the town over the last few days.

Similarly, many villages in Kulgam’s Qazigund area have been reeling under an acute water crisis for the last few months.

The affected villages include Y K Pora, Nagres, Peertaki, Lone Pora, and Muswani Chek.

“We were already facing severe paucity of drinking water and the current dry spell has exacerbated the problem,” said Zakir Ahmad of Y K Pora.

An official from the Jal Shakti Department said that people should use water judiciously and strictly refrain from using piped water to irrigate their vegetable gardens.