Water scarcity evokes protest in Sopore

Sopore, Nov 25: Residents of the Checkroday Khan area of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Monday staged a protest against Jal shakti department for lack of potable water facility in their area for years.

Residents of the area blocked Sopore-Fruit mandi road affecting vehicular traffic for an hour. The protesters 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 concrete steps to mitigate our suffering or resolve this genuine problem,” residents said.

However after police intervention headed by SHO Sopore Ayaz Geelani, who assured them of taking up their genuine demand with higher officials the protesters allowed the road for traffic movement.

Residents said that, “Authorities are ignoring us on all fronts. Despite repeated assurances and promises, the Jal Shakti department has failed to provide adequate drinking water facilities to us.”

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

Another protester, Farooq 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.”

He said that various politicians during Assembly elections visit “our area and make hollow promises to the residents that the area will get all basic facilities if they cast votes in favour of them, but after elections this is all in vain.”

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 for years. They alleged that they are not getting tap water properly. The residents claim that no concrete action has been taken to resolve the issue.

The residents also appealed to the chief minister Omar Abdullah, and district administration to intervene in the matter to address the issue and ensure the regular supply of drinking water to the area.