Thousands of people living in Nowgam belt of Sumbal in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district have had no access to clean, potable water for decades, causing people to suffer.
While complaining about the matter, the locals told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that there are many problems in the area, but the crisis of drinking water has remained unresolved for decades.
“Every day we have to walk many kilometers to fetch safe drinking water,” they said.
The locals said that no government assistance has come their way and the absence of drinking water projects in the area has worsened their living situation.
“For the last twenty years, I’ve seen people here suffer from water shortages,” Hashim Nabi, a local said, adding that the government still does not feel sorry for them.
Ameena Begum, another elderly lady said that at times they have to buy a bottle of water to serve guests.
“We are not able to describe our difficulty, how much trouble we are facing from time to time and the government, as always, is cheating us by making fake promises,” Ishfaq Hameed another local said.
The locals have sought immediate intervention of LG Manoj Sinha in this regard so that their grievances are addressed at the earliest.
Officials at Jal-Shakti department Sumbal, said that the area is suffering from safe drinking water.
Officials said that a total amount of Rs 8 crore has been framed for the water supply project for which the tenders will be notified soon.
“The project may be completed in August 2022 and the entire place will get rid of water scarcity,” officials sai