Water shortage triggers protest in Sopore
Sopore : Residents of Hathishah and Ningli areas of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Monday staged a protest against Jal Shakti department saying the department ‘failed’ to provide potable water supply to their areas.
Witnesses said that scores of inhabitants including women assembled at Jamia Qadeem in Sopore and raised slogans against Jal Shakti department and blocked the Sopore- Sumbal road for hours.
“We are facing acute drinking water shortage since last two weeks and the department is forcing them to consume filthy water from other sources,” Khalida Begum, a protestor said.
She said that we had approached the concerned officials many times but they preferred to ignore our pleas and nothing was done to mitigate our sufferings.
Meanwhile, President Economic Alliance Sopore, Haji Muhamad Ashraf Ganaie also expressed deep concern over the complaints of water shortage.
He said that due to shortage of water people of town face tremendous hardships even during this holy month of Ramadhan. He appealed the district administration and concerned department to look into the matter.
Later as the protestors declined to call of their protests a police party from Police Station Tarzoo reached the spot and pacified the protesters and restored the traffic.
Meanwhile, an official of Jal Shakhti Department Sopore when contacted said that the issue is being resolved.
Bilal Ahmad
