Maldera Shopian residents allege shortage of potable water
Shopian: The residents of Maldera village in Chitragam tehsil of south Kashmir’s Shopian district are facing shortage of potable water since last several years.
Residents of the area said that Maldera which consists of over 400 households is facing shortage of water since last several years but no attention is being provided towards the issue.
“A well was constructed in the area few years ago but it caters to just few households and most of households are without potable water supply,” said Ghulam Mohiuddin, a local resident.
Besides, the water taken from the well is contaminated due to which most people of the area are suffering from water borne diseases, he said.
He said that most people of the area are forced to fetch water from the contaminated spring which is around one Kilometre from the locality.
“A scheme was proposed for the area in 2017 to provide water to the area after which DPR was also prepared and submitted before higher ups,” said Gulzar Ahmad, another local.
He said that no movement forward has been reported since then.
He said that the tendering process was also carried out but due to unknown reasons nothing has been done on ground.
The locals said that installing pipeline was started after intervention of then Deputy Commissioner last year but it was stopped midway.
“We have brought this issue into the notice of higher ups several times but to no avail,” they said.
They have now once again requested the higher ups to take up the issue at an earliest so that people can heave a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, an official of the Jal Shakti department said that initially some orchardists had objected to the laying of pipes through their farms, however, the issue has been now sorted out.
He assured that work of installing pipeline will resume soon.
