Villagers get respite from acute water scarcity
By: Aabid Hameed
Shopian: Finally, the wait has come to an end as the much-awaited Water Supply Scheme (WSS) has been commissioned in Safanagri village of Zainapora Tehsil in South Kashmir’s Shopian district after six decades, brining respite among the people from the acute water scarcity they faced since then.
The work on this scheme was sanctioned in the year 1960, locals said, adding that the completion of the work took place only after the passage of six decades.
They said despite the scheme was sanctioned around 6 decades ago, the work on it was started around 2 decades back.
After working for few months, the scheme witnessed halt of work for years due to shortage of funds and few other reasons, they said.
Imtiyaz Ahmad, a 27-year-old youth from the village said that the work on this scheme was probably started before his birth but it was completed just a few days before.
He said that people of the area are very happy as it was for the first time that they got the potable drinking water at their doorsteps for which they were being forced to walk miles to quench the thirsty.
Water scarcity has finally ended up in the village and people of the area are heaving a sigh of relief after this scheme, constructed at the cost of around Rs 2 crore was completed, said Farooq Ahmad, another local resident.
He said that majority of the village has been already connected and rest part must be connected at an earliest.
Locals of the area have thanked Jal Shakti department for completing this scheme and giving relief to them.
Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) for Zainapora Sub division, G A Tantray said that many schemes in the area were kept defunct for want of minor things due to unknown reasons.
He said that he has recently joined here and soon after joining he gave directions to the concerned authorities for commission of this scheme.
