SRINAGAR: Burglars have stolen machinery from a Water Supply Scheme (WSS) in South Kashmir, affecting the water supply to three villages.
An official said that vital machinery worth lakhs, located at the Darbagh Zainapora Shopian Water Supply Scheme, was stolen during the night, rendering the supply defunct.
The official said that the scheme serves Darbagh in Shopian, as well as Zahid Bagh and Rakh in Pulwama district. The theft has left residents of these villages without access to potable water, further exacerbating existing water scarcity issues.
Residents in the area expressed frustration, saying the water supply scheme has been problematic since its inception. Originally built to serve 200 households, the scheme now caters to around 500 households, causing significant hardship for the community.
The residents have called on the government to create a separate water source for Zahid Bagh and Rakh villages to improve water supply services.
They have also demanded an investigation into the theft and urged authorities to restore the water supply as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, an official from the PHE Mechanical Engineering Wing said that employees assigned to night duty were absent, contributing to the negligence. The official added that the police had been informed, visited the scene, and initiated an investigation. Efforts are underway to restore the water supply to these villages at the earliest. (KNO)
