Sopore, June 18 (KNO): Relief appears to be on the horizon for thousands of residents in North Kashmir’s Sopore area as a major drinking water project under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme is set to bridge the town's longstanding water shortage of nearly 15 lakh gallons per day till 2040.
Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the project, being executed at Krankshivan Colony, will generate more than 32 lakh gallons of potable water daily, significantly enhancing the town's supply capacity and providing a long term solution to recurring shortages that have plagued several localities, particularly tail end areas. Once completed, the project is expected to transform the water supply scenario across all 21 municipal wards of Sopore.
Executive Engineer, Jal Shakti Department Sopore, Mushtaq Ahmed Wani, said the project is progressing at a steady pace and is scheduled for completion by September 2027.
"Sopore is presently facing a deficit of around 15 lakh gallons per day. The AMRUT 2.0 project, estimated at over Rs 73 crore, will generate more than 32 lakh gallons daily and cater to the needs of the town till 2040," Wani told KNO.
According to the official, the department continues to face challenges in ensuring equitable water distribution, particularly during the summer season when demand rises sharply.
He said misuse of treated drinking water for non-domestic purposes often affects supply in tail end areas, forcing the department to deploy tanker services to sustain water availability in affected localities. "We have pressed six water tankers into service to cater to areas facing shortages. Simultaneously, inspection teams have been constituted to conduct regular checks and take action under the Water Regulation Act against misuse of drinking water," Wani said.
Meanwhile, MLA Sopore Irshad Rasool Kar, who recently inspected the project site, described the scheme as a landmark initiative that would permanently address drinking water shortages in the town.
Kar said the department would lay more than 121 kilometres of pipeline network under the project, ensuring improved distribution and access to drinking water across Sopore's urban areas.
The legislator termed it one of the largest drinking water projects being executed in the Kashmir Valley and said the overall investment, including land acquisition and allied works, is expected to cross Rs 100 crore.
For years, residents of Sopore have faced recurring water shortages, especially during peak summer months. Several localities, particularly those situated at tail ends of the supply network, often report irregular water supply and low pressure.
Officials believe the AMRUT 2.0 project will not only bridge the existing deficit but also create adequate infrastructure to meet the town's drinking water requirements for decades, reducing dependence on decades old water supply chain and tanker services besides ensuring a more reliable supply system for the growing urban population—(KNO)