Anantnag: Four major water supply schemes sanctioned more than 11 years ago are in limbo in Anantnag district for want of funds affecting more than 70 villages.
The water supply schemes including Dachnipora, Watnar, Shangus and Tantraypora were sanctioned by the then government in 2008.
The estimated cost for each scheme was pegged at Rs 18.9 crore, 25.42 crore, 32.85 crore and 28.48 crore, respectively. The work, according to an official privy to the project, started in 2012 and after sometime the schemes were abandoned.
“No further work has been carried out. In fact, the work done is more than the payment released for the contractors. Many of the contractors have their bills pending with the department. They are yet to be paid for the work they have already completed,” a source in the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department told Kashmir Reader.
These schemes are not even eligible for funding under the centrally sponsored, National Rural Drinking Water Program (NRDWP). “Because to be eligible for that the work completed needs to be more than 25 percent, which is not the case with these schemes,” the source said.
The villagers which were to benefit say the schemes were politicized which is why the project was abandoned.
“Apparently, the PDP-BJP coalition neglected the schemes because of lack of funds. But the reason was that the project was started by the previous dispensation,” a resident of Shangus village in Anantnag told Kashmir Reader.
According to residents, there is a frequent outbreak of water-borne diseases in their village as they have to consume contaminated water in absence of potable water.
“We have been waiting for all these years for nothing,” he added.
Chief Engineer Pubic Health Engineering Abdul Wahid admitted that the funds to the project stopped midway saying they have taken up the issue with the government of India.
“We are hopeful that we will get a nod from the central government and work on these schemes will be resumed soon,” he told Kashmir Reader.

Suhail A Shah