Srinagar, Mar 21: More than one lakh people in Langate constituency in Handwara are consuming untreated water due to the lack of a water filtration plant, putting them at risk of waterborne diseases. The residents are being directly supplied drinking water without any filtration, raising serious health concerns.
Aggrieved residents of Mawer and Langate said the government has failed to construct a filtration plant, leaving them with no choice but to consume unfiltered water.
Azad Ahmad, a resident of Mawer, told Rising Kashmir that the situation worsens during rainy days when the water becomes unfit for consumption. “Insects and unclean water are supplied to us during rains. It is extremely difficult to drink such water,” he said.
Locals said they have repeatedly demanded the installation of a filtration plant. “Despite raising the issue with the concerned department and local representatives, no action has been taken,” they said.
Another resident pointed said while the government has spent large sums of money on defunct water reservoirs, the same funds could have been utilized to build a filtration plant. “Had the authorities invested in a filtration plant instead of defunct reservoirs, the people of this area would have had access to clean drinking water,” he said.
Residents believe that divine mercy has protected them so far from major outbreaks of waterborne diseases. However, they fear that cases of illness caused by contaminated water may go unrecognised.
Meanwhile, MLA Langate Shiekh Khurshid has assured that he will take up the matter with the government to ensure the establishment of a filtration plant for the people of Langate
Residents remain hopeful that their long-pending demand will soon be met, providing them with safe and clean drinking water.
