Meer Irfan
The residents of Sanimarg in Gatipora area of Keller block in south Kashmir’s Shopian district have been suffering due to the non-availability of drinking water in the area.
Locals said that they have to melt snow and use the same water for drinking and for other purposes.
Speaking to The Kashmiriyat the residents said that the water pipeline to the area has been damaged which has deprived the local residents of potable water.
Mushtaq Ahmed Chouhan, a local resident said that the residents were forced to come out of their houses and help the lineman repair the water line amid snow in the area.
He said, “The department (PHE) has deputed only one lineman for more several upper reaches of the Keller area, so the lineman is unable to cater to the large area.”
Mushtaq said that for the last several years the problem has persisted claiming that it is not merely the winter months. “Even in summer months, the water supply to the areas remains highly affected.”
He said that the local residents melt the snow to cater to their need of water, as the local stream runs dry during the winter months.
Appealing the local administration to intervene, the local residents said, “one lineman is not enough for such a large area. We ask the department to depute more linemen to this area.”
The AEE of Keller block upon being contacted by The Kashmiriyat admitted on record that there was a shortage of employees. “Many people are retiring, but no new people are coming to the department,” he said.
He, however, said that the department is working at a swift pace to repair all the damaged lines. “The PHE employees are out in the areas where the water supply has been disrupted because of snow and it will be repaired soon,” he told The Kashmiriyat.