Budgam, July 15 (JKNS): Residents of Pandit Colony, Chan Mohalla, Ustaad Colony and adjoining areas of Budgam on Wednesday staged a protest against the supply of contaminated drinking water, alleging that polluted water has been supplied to their localities for the past 15 days, posing a serious threat to public health.
The protest as per news agency JKNS, led largely by women, was held near Budgam Chowk, where demonstrators briefly blocked traffic and raised slogans against the Jal Shakti Department (JJM/PHE), demanding the immediate restoration of clean drinking water and urgent intervention by the concerned authorities.
The protesters alleged that the water being supplied to their homes was muddy, contaminated and unfit for human consumption. They claimed that despite repeatedly bringing the matter to the notice of the concerned department over the past two weeks, no effective action had been taken, leaving hundreds of families without access to safe drinking water.
During the demonstration, protesters also raised slogans against the local MLA, alleging that promises made during the election campaign regarding basic civic amenities, particularly the supply of safe drinking water, had not been fulfilled.
A student participating in the protest said that instead of concentrating on studies, students are forced to travel long distances every day to fetch drinking water because the water supplied to their homes is unsafe.
One of the protesting women appealed to the district administration for immediate intervention, stating that several children had fallen ill after consuming the contaminated water. “When will we finally get clean drinking water?” she asked.
Another woman from Pandit Colony questioned the authorities, saying, “Where is Budgam’s water going? If the same water is reaching other villages and localities, why are we being deprived of clean drinking water? For the past 15 days, we have been forced to consume polluted water, which is affecting the health of our children and elderly people. We appeal to the district administration to find a permanent solution and ensure the supply of clean, safe and potable drinking water.”
The protesters urged the Jal Shakti Department and the district administration to identify the source of contamination, restore the supply of potable water without further delay, and take effective measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.
They warned that if the issue remains unresolved, they would intensify their agitation until clean and safe drinking water is restored to their localities. (JKNS)
