Water scarcity evokes protest in Sopore

Baramulla, Jan 7: The residents of Amargarh Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district staged a protest on Tuesday against the tap water scarcity in the area.

The protesters, men and women, gathered on the Sangrama-Sopore road at Amargarh and blocked the traffic movement on the road for several years.

Demanding adequate tap water supply, the protesters said that the Amargarh area of the Sopore is without water supply for quite a long time now, with the result the locals here are facing severe hardships.

“From the last over six months we have been facing a water shortage,” said Fayaz Ahmad, a protester. “Despite our repeated visits to the concerned department, the issue is not getting resolved. The administration's lackadaisical approach has forced us to block the road,” added Fayaz.

Another woman protester carrying an empty water pot while describing the situation extremely grim especially for the women said that following the acute drinking water shortage, they are forced to fetch water from polluted streams which has potential to cause waterborne diseases.

She urged the administration to ensure that people don’t suffer on account of tap water which is a basic necessity of people. “We are unable to run the household affairs in the absence of the tap water. It is extremely difficult for a woman to manage things at home when she has to step out and fetch drinking water from a long distance,” said one of the women protesters.

Later, the officials of the Jammu and Kashmir police besides that of the Jal Shakti  department rushed to the spot and assured the protesters that their grievances will be resolved soon.

Meanwhile, when contacted, the Executive Engineer, Jal Shakti department Sopore, Mushtaq Ahmad said that the issue will be resolved soon. He said although the affected area used to get smooth water supply till October -November, however, following the earlier dry weather and low discharge, the area is receiving drinking water alternatively.

“As all of us know that water resources have dried up at various places following dry weather across Kashmir. With the result there has been substantial low discharge which has affected the drinking water supply in the affected area. These areas will soon receive adequate water supply,” said Executive Engineer, Jal Shakti department Sopore.