Residents urge authorities to fulfill promises of reliable supply from newly built tank
Proposal for hotline included in DPR under AMRUT 2.0, hopeful of resolution soon: AEE
HAJIN: Residents of Hajin town have expressed their strong resentment over the failure of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department to make the newly constructed Overhead Tank (OHT) operational, even three years after its completion.
The OHT, built near Khanqah Masjid in 2021, was designed to alleviate the town’s ongoing water scarcity. However, it remains non-functional, leaving many neighbourhoods struggling with a severe water crisis.
“We were promised a reliable water supply, but three years have passed, and not a single drop of water has been supplied through this tank,” Abdul Aziz, a local resident, told Kashmir Reader. “We are forced to rely on alternative sources, which are unreliable and inconvenient.”
Another resident, Mohd Rouf, said, “It feels like the authorities have forgotten about this tank after its completion. Despite several complaints, no action has been taken, and our daily lives are suffering as a result.”
Dr Jameel, a prominent local figure, voiced the community’s discontent: “Water is a basic necessity, and the lack of urgency from the authorities to address this issue is unacceptable. The government must act immediately to make this water tank operational and fulfill its promise to the people.”
The residents have urged the concerned authorities to take swift action and ensure the tank becomes operational without further delay, bringing much-needed relief to the town.
Speaking to Kashmir Reader, Saqib Qazi, the AEE of the PHE Department, said that according to the concerned Junior Engineer (JE), the installation of a hotline is essential for fully filling the OHTs, as both tanks require an uninterrupted power supply for approximately 10 to 12 hours. He added that the proposal for the hotline has been included in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) under AMRUT 2.0.
“Unless the hotline is sanctioned for the water supply scheme, it will not be possible to ensure water reaches these OHTs. However, we are hopeful that the matter will be resolved soon,” Qazi said.