By: Amjad Hussain
Srinagar: At a time, when government is aiming to benefit thousands of households across the country under Prime Minister’s ‘Har Ghar Nal Yojna’ (tap water to every household) scheme, Puhal a small hamlet situated at Brein area in Srinagar outskirts is without potable water since 2019.
Residents of Aara Mohalla, Puhal Brein told Precious Kashmir that the acute water scarcity has compounded their problems prompting them to install portable electric motors to get drinking water.
An elderly woman said since they cannot afford to buy a water motor, her physically challenged husband moves to the other localities to fetch water.
She said the village has been facing acute shortage of water since 2019; however no steps have been taken so far to mitigate the problems og people for the past two years.
“Have pity on us; we don’t have water for ablution not to talk of washing and bathing. My physically challenged husband fetches water from the other village. We have reminded the concerned department many times but our repeated pleas have fallen flat on deaf ears,” she added.
Mohammad Asraf Bhat another local said people, including females, walk on foot for miles to fetch water.
He said the villagers collect water in buckets and pots for drinking, washing and other household requirements as they have been deprived of the basic necessity for the past two years.
“We are suffering seriously, we appeal to the government to provide water supply to this small village so that the locals living here heave a sigh of relief. We too are humans who ought to have basic necessities of life, if not then we will shift from here,” said he.
Mohammad Shafi Rather said the water scarcity has affected everyone equally but few households are the worst hit.
“Water lines in our village run dry most of the time. Most people here use electric motors to get water while those who can’t afford the motors fetch it from other localities,” said Altaf Ahmad.
When contacted Chief Engineer, Jal Shakti Department, Mohammad Iftikhar Wani said he will look into the matter and address the issue confronting villagers.
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