Budgam, July 5 (JKNS): Residents of Lalpora village in the Beerwah area of Budgam on Sunday staged a peaceful protest against the acute shortage of drinking water, urging the concerned authorities to intervene immediately and find a permanent solution to the crisis.
The protesters said that nearly 70 households in the village have been severely affected due to the disruption in the drinking water supply, causing immense hardship and affecting their daily lives.
According to the residents, the village’s drinking water supply has remained disrupted after an underground water pipeline was allegedly damaged. They further alleged that some individuals are diverting potable water for irrigating apple orchards and agricultural land, while others are using motor pumps to draw excessive quantities of water from the public supply, leaving many households without adequate drinking water.
The protesters also highlighted the difficulties faced by women in the village, saying they are forced to travel long distances every day to fetch drinking water. They added that the issue had previously been brought to the notice of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department in Beerwah, but no effective action has been taken so far, and the situation remains unchanged.
Holding placards and raising slogans, the demonstrators urged the Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), Executive Engineer (XEN), and other concerned officials of the PHE Department to immediately repair the damaged pipeline and restore the drinking water supply. They warned that if their genuine demands were not addressed, they would intensify their protest.
Speaking to the media on the occasion, Farooq Ahmad Ahangar alleged that some people are using drinking water for irrigating agricultural fields and orchards, while others are drawing excessive quantities of water from the public supply through motor pumps, further worsening the water crisis. He appealed to the authorities to take strict action against those found misusing drinking water so that uninterrupted potable water supply can be ensured for the residents.
The protesters also appealed to the Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, the district administration, the Executive Engineer (XEN), the Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), and other concerned PHE officials to treat the matter on a priority basis, stop the alleged misuse of drinking water, and ensure a regular and uninterrupted supply of safe drinking water to Lalpora village. (JKNS)
