Jal Shakti attributes scarcity to dry spell, says water tankers ensure minimal supply

Pampore: In a distressing turn of events, residents of the remote Bathina Khrew village in Pampore Tehsil find themselves compelled to bring water in trucks and tippers from nearby cement factories, as local springs dry up due to prevailing weather conditions. The village is now facing a severe shortage of drinking water, forced to bring water in private vehicles.
To address this crisis, the community has taken matters into their own hands, utilizing private vehicles to collect water from nearby cement factories. The collected water is then distributed within the village, highlighting the residents’ resilience in the face of adversity.
Faced with this challenging scenario, the villagers earnestly request assistance from the administration to find a swift and lasting resolution to the water scarcity issue. The plea underscores the urgent need for intervention to ensure the provision of clean and accessible drinking water to the residents of Bathina village, local residents told Kashmir Reader.
Ameena Akhtar, a local woman, expressed her concerns about the severe water shortage. She said, “For the past 20 years, I have witnessed the persistent water problem here. We appeal to Deputy Commissioner Pulwama to address our issue and provide us with a solution, preferably by ensuring a supply of tap water. This would alleviate our hardships and resolve the longstanding water crisis.”
Another woman, Saleema Begum, highlighted, “We collect water from cement factories using private vehicles and distribute it here. In the past few days, tipper and truck drivers have been bringing drinking water for us.”
“We request the Deputy Commissioner Pulwama to, for God’s sake, arrange for the installation of pipes from the Jal Shakti department here. This would enable us to have access to water for drinking purposes. We used to get water from the spring, but due to the dry spell, it’s no longer flowing. Initially, the population here was very low, but now it has increased. With the rise in population, the expenses have also increased.”
Another woman, “We are facing an extreme water crisis here. My husband brought drinking water in a truck from the cement factory, and his hand was injured while fetching water from the truck.”
She added, “I have four children, and they used to go to the mosque and religious school. Now, they can’t go because there is no water here, and we are facing so much hardship. Only Allah knows what circumstances we are going through.”
Speaking to Kashmir Reader, Assistant Executive Engineer Jal Shakti department Pampore Gulzar Ahmad said that Bathina village was receiving minimal water from the springs due to a dry spell. Despite the limited supply, our water tanker makes two daily trips to provide water to the residents of Bathina. We have photographic evidence showing our water tanker filling the water tank at the village and residents collecting water from it.
“We have implemented water schemes for Bhathina, Batdalaw, and Bajnadi villages, with an estimated cost of nine crore rupees. The civil work is approximately 90 percent completed, and ongoing mechanical work is expected to conclude within a month. We are actively working towards providing water to the residents through this scheme.”

BILAL HABIB