Shopian’s Kral-Check residents face potable water shortage

Shopian, July 13: Residents of Kral-Check village in south Kashmir’s Shopian district are grappling with a shortage of potable water for several months.
The local community has expressed growing frustration, saying their pleas to the Jal Shakti department remain unanswered.
Zahoor Ahmad, a local, said the situation has been dire throughout the summer. “During this summer season, we received tap water for around 20 days only,” he said, adding that despite repeated appeals to the authorities of the Jal Shakti Department, the issue remains unresolved, leaving the villagers in a state of distress.
Local residents recently staged a protest to draw attention to their plight. The protest, which was covered by local media, has not yet prompted the necessary action to address the water scarcity.
The supply line requires urgent repairs and maintenance to restore the flow of potable water, they said.
The villagers have once again appealed to the Jal Shakti department to address their grievances. They stress the urgency of the situation, as the lack of access to clean water is severely impacting their daily lives.
Abdul Rashid, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) of Jal Shakti for the concerned area, said the volume of water typically decreases in summer, exacerbating the problem.
He said the misuse of potable water for irrigation purposes in the Kandi belt contributes to the shortage.
In response to the residents’ complaints, Rashid assured that the department would visit the area to assess the situation and take corrective measures without delay.