Bijbehara residents ‘forced’ to drink contaminated water
Anantmag: Residents of Semthan and Tulkhan villages in Bijbehara area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district are up in arms against Jal Shakti Department for allegedly supplying contaminated water to them.
The residents alleged that they are supplied contaminated and unfiltered drinking water by the Jal Shakti department from River Jehlum as there is no filtration plant in their area which would have ensured providing supply of safe drinking water to the residents.
Mudasir Ahmad a a local resident of Semthan said that from last several years dirty and unhygienic water is being supplied to them which contain lot of mud, dirt and other impurities.
The water is not even fit for washing, let alone drinking purpose, he said adding that still no attention is being provided towards this issue of public importance.
“An old water supply scheme that is functional in the area is not able to cater to even half o the population residing in Semthan and Tulkhan,” said Mohammed Yousuf another local resident, adding that some years back a new one was constructed however, it also got defunct even before it was commissioned.
He said since then the people have been approaching offices of higher authorities but the pleas by the locals have fallen on deaf ears.
“At present 50 percent population of these villages are without drinking water facility while as rest are getting contaminated water,” he said.
Locals said every time they are being assured by concerned authorities but their repeated promises have proven hoax on ground.
The locals once again requested the top officials to look into the matter and provide portable drinking water to the populace so that they can heave a sigh of relief.
On contacting executive engineer Jal Shakti division Bijbehara, Mohammed Haneef, he said that department is planning to construct new water supply scheme for the area and very soon the area will get portable water.
Jahangeer Ganaie
