SHOPIAN: Several villages in south Kashmir’s Shopian said they are being supplied contaminated water by Public Health Engineering department (PHE) “as the water reservoir has gone defunct” – which is not being restored despite repeated appeals.
Residents of Aloora, Sulbhatpora and Dairpora alleged that the drinking water provided by PHE is highly unhygienic. They said that after the water tank situated at Harmain village went defunct, authorities started supplying water from a pit – “which is a source of dirty canal”.
“Many people regularly fall ill due to contaminated water. We have repeatedly appealed to the authorities to restore pure water supply, but our demands were not paid any attention,” said Irshad Ahmad, a resident from Alroora village.
He said that the water is so much contaminated that people don’t even bother to wash their foot with this water.
A group of villagers told Kashmir Reader that they have appealed Deputy Commissioner Shopian to resolve their problem, but nothing was done. Executive engineer, PHE, Irfan ul Haq told Kashmir Reader that a new water reservoir has been sanctioned for these villages and tendering has been conducted. “I talked to the contractor who said that due to lack of specialised labour, work cannot be started,” he said, adding that work will be started soon after the weather improves, and till then people must bear with them.

Raashid Hassan