Non-availability of drinking water sparks protest in Pattan

Baramulla, Dec 08: The inhabitants of Buran area of Pattan in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district Thursday blocked Srinagar-Baramulla road against the acute water scarcity in the area which halted the traffic on the highway.
Locals said that dozens of protesters hit the road and blocked vehicular movement on Srinagar-Baramulla highway near Zangam
The protesting residents raised slogans against the PHE department and said that the department didn’t make an effort to alleviate the misery of the populace.
The protesters said that because of a severe water shortage, people had been suffering and that local women had to travel several kilometres to obtain drinking water from distant places.
A woman who was part of the protestors said that the non-availability of drinking water in Pattan and its adjoining localities of Zangam, Buran, Check Jamal Mir has made life miserable for the inhabitants.
“The women of these areas have to walk on foot a kilometre away to collect the drinking water for daily use. The chilly winter is making it difficult for us,” she added.
The protesting women urged Dr. Sehrish Asgar, Deputy Commissioner of Baramulla, and PHE department officials to look into the situation and provide a quick solution.
In the meantime, a police team and authorities arrived on the scene to calm the demonstrators.
They promised the demonstrators that they would raise the situation with the authorities and find a quick solution.