Potable Water crisis triggers protest in Pulwama’s Pinglena
Residents block Srinagar-Pulwama road
Pulwama: Residents of Pinglena village in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district staged a protest on Monday against an acute shortage of drinking water, briefly blocking the Srinagar–Pulwama road and disrupting traffic to press for the immediate restoration of piped water supply.
The protesters said the area has been reeling under a severe water crisis for the past several days, leaving hundreds of families without access to safe drinking water during the ongoing summer heat.
Raising slogans, the residents demanded urgent intervention from the Jal Shakti Department to restore normal water supply.
According to locals, the prolonged disruption has severely affected daily life, forcing families to travel long distances to fetch water for drinking and other household needs.
“We have been without tap water for several days. Every morning we have to carry containers and walk to distant locations just to collect water. It has become extremely difficult, especially for women, elderly people and children,” said one resident participating in the protest.
Another protester alleged that the crisis could have been avoided had the concerned officials acted in time.
“This is not the first time we have faced such a situation. The authorities remained indifferent despite repeated complaints. Water is a basic necessity, and people should not have to protest for something so essential. We want accountability and a permanent solution,” he said.
The protesters also demanded action against officials whom they accused of negligence and sought immediate measures to ensure uninterrupted water supply to the village.
Following the protest, officials from the Pulwama Police and the Jal Shakti Department reached the spot and held discussions with the agitating residents. The demonstration was later called off after the authorities assured the protesters that immediate steps would be taken to ease the crisis, following which traffic movement on the road was restored.
Executive Engineer, Jal Shakti Department Pulwama, Bilal Ahmad, said the shortage had occurred due to reduced discharge from the natural water source feeding the supply scheme.
“The water level at the source has declined, which has affected supply to certain areas, including Pinglena. We are working on alternative arrangements, and until the piped water supply is fully restored, drinking water will be provided to the affected locality through tankers on a daily basis,” he said.
