Ganderbal, May 29: Akhal Kangan locality on Thursday took to the streets to protest against the Jal Shakti Department over the supply of contaminated drinking water. Demonstrators blocked the Kangan-Sonamarg road, demanding immediate redressal of their grievances.
Protesters said the tap water in their area is muddy and unsafe for consumption, forcing them to fetch water from nearby rivers and streams. “We are compelled to drink polluted water, putting our health—especially that of our children and elderly—at serious risk,” said one local resident.
The locals from Akhal Kangan also called on the department to conduct laboratory testing of the water and take urgent steps to resolve the issue.
Residents of the adjoining Kullan area voiced similar concerns, stating that they too have been left with no choice but to consume unsafe water.
In response to the allegations, Shabir Masood, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) of Jal Shakti Kangan, attributed part of the problem to illegal water connections in areas like Gonchi Mohallah and Akhal Kangan. “Some households have set up unauthorized connections, which might be contaminating the supply. We will carry out inspections and disconnect all such lines,” he said.
Regarding Kullan’s issues, the AEE cited a land dispute between a private landowner and the department, which has delayed the execution of necessary works. “We are actively working on resolving this matter,” he added.
Meanwhile, in central Kashmir’s Dardpora area of Ganderbal, the residents of Yarmuqam village continue to face a longstanding crisis—severe shortage of drinking water. Despite the laying of new water pipes in 2020, the situation has worsened due to alleged poor workmanship and use of rust-prone materials.
“This has been our struggle for over three decades,” said Ghulam Nabi, a resident of Yarmuqam. Adding, “We were promised relief, but the new system has failed us.”
Women in the village say they bear the brunt of the crisis. “I’ve never seen clean water come from our taps,” said a resident. “Our children are constantly at risk due to the rusted pipelines. They must be replaced immediately,” she added.
Responding to the rising public outcry, Fayaz Ahmad, Executive Engineer of Jal Shakti Ganderbal, said a new 70,000-gallon water distribution plant is nearing completion and will be operational within ten days. “This plant will provide clean drinking water to Yarmuqam. We are also preparing to replace the existing corroded pipelines within the next 20 days,” he assured.
