Water scarcity evokes protest in Rafiabad

Sopore, Aug 3: Residents of the Sheikhpora Behrampora hamlet of Rafiabad in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Saturday held a peaceful protest against administration and Jal Shakti department for lack of proper potable water facility in their area for years.

Residents of the area while protesting said that they are facing immense hardships due to an acute shortage of drinking water for years.

“We took to the streets a number of times to press for our demands but the authorities remain unmoved and they don’t take any step to mitigate our suffering or resolve this genuine problem of the area,” residents said.

The locals said the women folk have to walk miles to fetch water. “Authorities are ignoring us on all fronts. Despite repeated assurances and promises, the Jal Shakti department has failed to provide adequate drinking water facility to us even in this scorching heat wave season,” Posha Begum, one of the protester said.

She said that due to the non-availability of drinking water “we are forced to consume contaminated water from streams and wells which causes different water borne diseases among the residents, especially children.”

Another protester, Sahil Ahmad, criticised the government for its “hollow slogans” like ‘Har Ghar Nal Se Jal’, saying “these claims have fallen flat as our locality has been suffering due to the scarcity of drinking water supply for years.”

Another group of the residents accused the Jal Shakti Department of showing apathy towards the non-availability of proper drinking water facilities in the area. They alleged that they are getting water only for one hour from 48 hours which too in midnight hours and the irony is that the “water supplied to our area is much contaminated.” Despite repeatedly raising the issues with the concerned department, the residents claimed that no concrete action has been taken to resolve the issue.

The protestors appealed to the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, and district administration to intervene in the matter to address the issue and ensure the regular supply of drinking water to the area.

Meanwhile, officials from Jal Shaki department in Rafiabad said that the issue of water supply in the area will be resolved soon.