Delayed Project, Damaged Irrigation Channel Causes Drinking Water Shortage in Baramulla Area

The population of at least three thousand locals is facing acute water shortage as the lone source of water has damaged due to heavy winds in Wanigam Payeen Pattan village of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

Speaking to The Kashmiriyat, the resident of Wanigam Payeen said that the irrigation water canal, wherefrom the Jal Shakti department supplies the water for the village and is the lone source of water to the whole village has got damaged due to heavy winds.

Residents said that the poplar trees that were planted on the edge of the water canal have fallen down from roots which caused heavy damage to the water canal.

A local Panch namely Mohd Yousuf Khan told The Kashmiriyat that due to the negligence of the Jal Shakti (PHE) department the whole population is facing an acute shortage of drinking water. He alleged that although the contractor of the languishing scheme project has dumped the pipes in the village before months for the installation at Spring (Padcha Dajhi) at another place through which the water will be supplied to the village, unfortunately, the said department has failed to complete the departmental work.

He added, “We have already requested the concerned department to install the pipes through the same canal but unfortunately department never took it seriously”.

When The Kashmiriyat contacted AEE PHE Pattan, he has been recently posted into the area and does not have any information about this. “I will look into this matter, will try to solve early”, he told The Kashmiriyat.

Concerned J.E PHE said that the project under the languishing scheme is under process and the contractor is facing some problems. He added that they are trying to complete the departmental work at the earliest.

Meanwhile, the locals of the area have appealed to LG J&K Manoj Sinha, Chief Engineer Jal Shakti (PHE) department, DC Baramulla to solve their problem at the earliest.