Residents of Khargund Chowgam protest inclusion of Churat village in Water Scheme
Demand separate water supply for Churat
Kulgam; Residents of Khargund Chowgam in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district staged a protest on Saturday against the Jal Shakti (PHE) Department for allegedly diverting a water supply scheme originally meant for their area to an adjoining village, Churat.
Scores of locals assembled in Khargund and raised slogans while accusing authorities of including Churat village in a water supply scheme that was, according to them, specifically designed for other villages including theirs.
“We have no issue with providing water to Churat, but it should not come at the cost of our rights. The scheme was approved under a Detailed Project Report (DPR) with specific villages listed as beneficiaries. Water should be supplied to those villages first,” said Ghulam Nabi, a protesting resident.
The protesters alleged that water availability under the existing scheme is already insufficient to cater to the listed villages and any diversion would worsen the crisis.
“Even today, we are facing a water shortage. If water is now diverted to Churat, what will happen to us? The government must ensure that villages mentioned in the DPR are prioritized,” said Zahoor Ahmad, another protester.
Locals emphasized they are not against development or extension of water facilities to any village, including Churat, but insisted that it should not affect the original beneficiaries.
“We welcome the government’s decision to provide water to Churat. Every village deserves basic amenities. But for that, a new and separate scheme must be constructed. Don’t snatch our rightful share and give it to others,” said a group of women who had joined the protest.
“We appeal to the higher authorities to intervene and ensure that the original plan of the scheme is followed in letter and spirit so that existing villages on the scheme won’t get disturbed.
Locals urged the Deputy Commissioner and the Chief Engineer of Jal Shakti to look into the matter and ensure justice is done by either limiting the scheme to the original DPR villages or by launching a separate water supply project for Churat.
