Pulwama, May 16 (KNO): Residents of Arigam village in Tral area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district have expressed resentment over the persistent shortage of potable drinking water, alleging that a supply scheme sanctioned nearly seven years ago is yet to take off.
The villagers told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that they have been suffering due to the lack of safe drinking water for several years and are consuming contaminated water supplied through the existing system, posing serious health risks to the local population.
Ishfaq Gul, a local social activist from Arigam, said that despite repeated representations to the concerned authorities, the issue continues to remain unresolved.
“We are facing immense hardships due to the absence of clean drinking water in the village. The water supplied through the existing scheme is highly contaminated and unfit for consumption. People, especially women and elderly persons, are forced to travel several kilometres to Tral town to fetch water from natural springs,” he said.
The activist said that after persistent efforts by the residents, a new water supply scheme for the village was sanctioned in 2018, but even after several years, work on the project has not begun in a meaningful manner.
“The authorities had assured us many times that work would start soon, but nothing concrete has happened on the ground so far. The villagers are losing hope as promises are repeatedly being made without implementation,” he added.
Another resident and Auqaf member, Abdul Rehman Baba, said the entire village continues to suffer due to the shortage of potable water, and the limited arrangements made by the department are insufficient for the population.
“Two public water posts were installed around two years ago after the issue was highlighted publicly, but these are not enough to cater to the needs of the whole village. People still struggle daily to arrange drinking water for their households,” he said.
He added that residents had recently pinned hopes on the project after the intervention of MLA Tral Rafiq Ahmad Naik, following which machinery was brought to the village nearly two months ago.
“People thought the work would finally start, but despite machinery being present at the site, no progress has been witnessed so far,” Baba said.
The residents appealed to MLA Naik and Deputy Commissioner (DC) Pulwama Dr Basharat Qayoom to intervene and ensure that the long-pending water supply scheme is executed without any further delay.
Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) Jal Shakti (PHE) Tral, Ilyas Ahmad, said the concerned department has already moved machinery to the site and work is expected to begin shortly.
“The operator who has to run the machinery had to come from outside and is on the way. Work is likely to start soon,” he said.
Ahmad added, "Initially, a well would be dug at the site to assess whether the water is fit for human consumption. Once the quality and feasibility of the water source are confirmed, the department will proceed with the construction of the water storage tank and further infrastructure under the scheme."—(KNO)