Potable water crisis ends in three tribal villages in Pampore
Rs 9 crore lift scheme commissioned as villagers rejoice
Pulwama: The residents of three tribal villages in Khrew Pampore hamlet of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district are rejoicing as after a wait of over three decades clean drinking water is reaching to their doorsteps.
There is a wave of joy among the people of Bathina, Batdalaw and Bajnari villages as their decades-long water crisis finally came to an end, locals said Wednesday.
The successful implementation of a Rs 9 crore water lift scheme under the Jal Jeevan Mission has brought clean drinking water to their doorsteps, achieving a significant milestone in the development of the area.
The residents of the area said that they were utilizing private vehicles to collect water from nearby cement factories following which water was being distributed among the villagers.
Shakeel Ahmad, a local resident said that they were witnessing the water crisis for the past 30 years and in the absence of potable water they were leading miserable lives.
He said that for the first time they have received water at their door steps and this has brought happiness in the entire area.
For the past thirty years, the residents of these villages struggled with acute water shortages, forcing them to fetch water from distant sources, locals said.
“This burden disproportionately affected women and young girls, who often spent five to six hours daily carrying water for household needs. Many families were even compelled to migrate due to the unavailability of this basic necessity,” they said.
“The successful completion of this project has not only improved the living conditions of the residents but has also paved the way for better education opportunities, particularly for girls who can now focus on their studies instead of spending hours fetching water,” Mehnaza Akhter, a local woman said.
“It is a sigh of relief for the villagers that they too can get water at their doorsteps,” she said, expressing gratitude for the much-awaited transformation.
The villagers have extended their heartfelt appreciation to the PHE Sub-Division Pampore, the Deputy Commissioner of Pulwama, the J&K UT Government, and the Central Government for their collective efforts in making this project a reality.
