Water woes in Jammu: Promises unkept, residents in desperation

Jammu, Dec 12: The water crisis in several areas of Jammu, particularly Durganagar Lane No. 7, has reached alarming proportions, transforming the daily lives of residents into a relentless battle for a basic necessity. For hundreds of families, water has become a luxury that arrives only after days of waiting, and the consequences are dire.
“People often talk about unemployment being Jammu’s biggest issue, but in my view, water scarcity is the real crisis,” says Ravi Sharma, a frustrated resident of Durganagar. He described the exhausting routine of lugging water from tanker stations and rationing it to meet the needs of his family. “We have to save every drop. It’s tiring, but it’s the only way to manage,” he added, his voice tinged with desperation.
Executive Engineer of Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, Er. Rajesh Sharma acknowledged the problem. “The water supply hasn’t kept pace with the growing population. We’ve drilled a tube well and are working on extending the pipeline network to fix the issue. We expect the situation to improve within two months,” Sharma assured, adding that water tankers are being provided as an interim solution.
But locals remain deeply sceptical. “We’ve been hearing these promises for years, but nothing ever changes,” said Neha Raina, a resident who is unconvinced by the assurances of the authorities.
For residents like Sunil Gupta, the struggle has been ongoing for over a decade. “We’ve been here for 11 years, and the situation hasn’t changed. The water supply is sporadic, and if we miss collecting it, we have to wait another 10 to 20 days,” he shared. Gupta, along with his neighbours, is worn out by the lack of consistency and urgency from authorities. “Life has become unbearable. People have to make tough choices: skip a shower, miss work, or waste time waiting for water.”
Sanjay Verma, another resident, recalled the broken promises from local officials. “We were told months ago that a new tube well was being dug to address the water scarcity. Six months later, nothing has changed. I missed collecting water for just one day and had to wait a week for the next supply,” he said. Verma’s frustration reflects that of many others in the area who have become disillusioned by repeated assurances of relief.
What makes the situation even more concerning is the fact that Durga Nagar is not a remote area but lies close to the heart of the city. “If the water situation is this bad here, what must it be like in the more remote areas of Jammu?” questioned Arjun Sharma, a local student. He described how the water shortage disrupts their daily routines, sometimes forcing students to miss college due to a lack of water for basic hygiene. “It feels like we are living in ancient times, struggling for something as fundamental as water,” he said.
The frustration is mounting, and residents are now calling for urgent intervention from the Chief Minister to resolve the water crisis once and for all. The delay in action has turned the water shortage into a symbol of broken promises, leaving the people of Jammu to wonder when their basic needs will be prioritized.