Contaminated water crisis grips Pulwama villages, Seek activation of filtration plant

June 22, 2024 by News Desk

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Residents of three villages in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district are grappling with the consumption of contaminated water.

Residents of Zahid Bagh, Rakh, and Darbagh villages told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the authorities have yet to activate a newly repaired filtration plant, originally damaged during the 2014 floods.

They said the filtration plant, part of a water supply scheme initiated in 2012, was rendered defunct by the floods, leaving around 500 households to suffer from contaminated water for nearly a decade. Despite the plant’s repair being completed a few months ago, it has not yet been put into operation, they said.

Nazir Ahmad, a local Auqaf member, expressed frustration over the continued use of untreated water. “In the absence of a functioning filtration plant, water from Nallah Tongri, which is highly contaminated, is directly supplied to us,” he said.

Local residents said they have repeatedly brought this issue to the attention of the authorities, leading to the eventual repair of the filtration plant. However, the plant remains inactive for reasons unknown, perpetuating the risk of waterborne diseases among the community, they said.

The villagers have called for the intervention of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Pulwama to expedite the activation of the filtration plant and to ensure all pending households are connected to the scheme, providing them with access to safe, potable water—(KNO)