Ganderbal, Mar 03: Despite being surrounded by dozens of natural water sources, the residents of Bala Pati Chountwar Lar in Ganderbal district, Central Kashmir, continue to grapple with a water crisis. The area, which includes villages like Walliwar faces water scarcity due to damaged pipes at many places
Mohammad Yousuf Awan, a resident of the area, highlighted the dire situation, stating, “The Jal Shakti Department laid pipelines years ago, but they are now rusty and completely damaged. Water is wasted everywhere, and our repeated pleas to the department for repairs have fallen on deaf ears.”
The crisis has forced residents to depend on polluted water from local nallas (streams). Hasseena Banoo, another local, expressed her concerns, saying, “We are compelled to use contaminated water, which is harmful to our health.
Muneer Ahmad, another resident of Walliwar, lamented the lack of attention from the concerned department.
The situation in Kullan village in Gund is equally grim, with residents reporting poor water quality and inadequate supply. Access to clean and reliable water remains a distant dream for the community, impacting their health, hygiene, and overall quality of life.
In response to the growing concerns, officials from Jal Shakti Department assured that the matter would be escalated to higher authorities. Every possible effort will be made to provide better water supply to the affected areas,” they said.
