Two dozen Shopian villages without drinking water facility
Shopian: Over a dozen villages in Zainapora sub division of south Kashmir’s Shopian district are without drinking water facility since the past few months, the locals said.
Residents of Amerbugh, Drawani, Alishpora, Gundidarwesh, Chidipora, Bandapawa, Wadipora, Chitragam, Thokerpora, Nagbal and its adjacent areas said that during the construction of Shopian-Bijbehara road, the pipeline was damaged at several places due to which the water to their villages got affected.
They said that despite repeated requests to the government and the concerned department their pleas have gone unheard.
“Water pipeline was laid earlier in our area but we are yet to get a single drop of water, forcing us to drink water drawn from a well,” of a well, said Farooq Ahmad, a resident of Bandpawa.
He said that the water that we consume is highly contaminated. He added that there is only public post at our village and most of villagers have dug wells on their own, however, the contaminated water is taking a toll on our health.
“Dachoo village, with over 300 households have also a single public post, where locals have to wait for hours to get drinking water,” said Mudasir Ahmad a resident of Dachoo.
Locals from these areas requested higher ups to look into the matter and take immediate steps so that the issue is resolved before the harsh winter sets in.
On contacting, Assistant Executive Engineer sub division Zainapora Parvaiz Ahmad, he said that a new water supply for most of these villages will become functional in coming days.
He said that other villages are being covered under Jal Jeevan mission and will get water supply very soon.
Jahangeer Ganaie
