by Farzana Nisar
Srinagar
The residents of Sirnoo village in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district are without water supply since five months and in the bone-chilling winter amid snowfall, the local womenfolk have to fetch water from wells.
Accusing the authorities for ignoring their plights, the residents said that acute water scarcity has hit their village from the past six months while the officials are paying no heed over their sufferings.
“We have been deprived of drinking water since September, the taps are dry and authorities do not bother to restore water supply,” said Mohammad Ramzan, a resident.
“Some of the households have hand pumps while others have to fetch water after crossing a long distance. Our women have to walk in this harsh winter to fetch water from wells and streams,” he added.
Another resident Mohammad Ashraf, said that a water supply scheme has been sanctioned to the village but it may take years to get functional.
“The infrastructure of the scheme is still under construction and until it gets completed, authorities should find ways to end this scarcity of water,” he added.
“PHE tankers come to our village once in a week and supply water but we urge the PHE officials to take some immediate steps in solving the problem permanently”, said Abdul Ahad, another resident.
When contacted Executive Engineer PHE Pulwama, Nisar Ahmad Shah, he said “The main source of water for the village is springs and they have dried and depleted. But we regularly send water tanks to the affected village.”
“A tube well source scheme has been sanctioned for the village and the work is in progress. Hopefully, it will get completed by next year,” he assured.
