Baramulla, Sep 16: The Jal Shakti department in north Kashmir’s Baramulla has urged the residents to use water judiciously saying there is depletion of water in several resources in the district.
Earlier, protest demonstrations were reported from several areas of the district in the past few weeks.
Baramulla, known for the river Jhelum and pristine tributaries, is currently grappling with a severe shortage of drinking water in various areas.
The residents in several areas have raised concerns over the diminishing water levels in rivers and tributaries, leading to a growing crisis of access to clean drinking water.
According to locals, the areas such as Behrampora, Buden, Laiser, Hadipora, Chijhama in Rafiabad, several areas of Sopore, and Jalsheeri, Khoja Bagh, Chak Kanispora, Jetty, Sherwani Colony, Fatehpora, Pattan, and Tangmarg Bagipora areas are grappling with a severe shortage of drinking water.
The situation has raised alarm among locals who heavily rely on these water sources for their daily needs.
Several areas of the district have witnessed protests in the past month, with locals alleging that the Jal Shakti department isn’t paying attention to their repeated pleas.
Executive Engineer Jal Shakti department in Baramulla, Aijaz Ahmad, said that one of the key factors contributing to this water scarcity is the less-than-adequate precipitation in the past months.
“The lack of rainfall has resulted in diminished water flow in rivers and streams that typically provide a lifeline to the area. The water level is diminishing day by day with no rains around. The situation is worsening,” he said.
He added that the locals are also using water in an unplanned manner, which is exacerbating the problem.
“Water is depleting in main sources, leading to the shortage. Our two main tube wells in Chak Kanispora and Behrampora have dried up completely. We hope there will be timely rainfall; otherwise, the situation will worsen. Water levels are depleting in river Jhelum,” he said.
EXEN Jal Shakti Baramulla, Aijaz Ahmad, however, said that 16 tankers have been pressed into action to provide drinking water in the district wherever and whenever needed. “We have also hired three private tankers and two from the mechanical division to provide drinking water in these areas,” he said.
He said that for a better tomorrow, the people need to take immediate steps to conserve the environment and water resources. “People are polluting the water resources, environment, and are not using the water resources judiciously. Ruthless drawing of groundwater, which is the biggest source of water, and also a significant challenge for us,” he said.
Aijaz urged the people to utilise drinking water judiciously and not to waste it.
An official of the Jal Shakti department said they have time and again appealed to the people not to use drinking water supply for watering their kitchen gardens, but the majority of locals are using government water schemes for this purpose.
He said that people are even using boosters and water motors, which are exacerbating the problem. The department has assured the residents that measures are being taken to mitigate the crisis.
