16-year-old water project lies defunct in Nowdal Tral, residents dismayed

BASHARAT RASHID

Tral,20, Nov: The residents of Dadasara block and its adjoining areas in the Tral sub-district have expressed resentment against Jal Shakti (PHE) department for failing to restore the sixteen-year-old water supply scheme in Nowdal village.

The aggrieved residents told Arising State that a water supply scheme was launched in the year 2004, with the motive to end the water crisis in Dadasara and its adjoining areas. They said, “a water tank was accordingly constructed on a patch of land, in Nowdal village, with an estimated cost of 20 lac rupees, which however failed to give any relief to the residents, as it was never made functional till the date”.

Witnesses said that the water tank is day by day turning dilapidated, due to which people in nearby areas, continue to express resentment, against the concerned department.

One of the residents, Abdul Khaliq Mir told Arising State that concerned authorities have always turned a blind eye towards the matter, due to which the water tank has turned pathetic now.

He said that Dadasara block is facing grim shortage of pure drinking water supply for years, with locals facing hardships, without any intervention from any top official.

“Contaminated water has led to the outbreak of several diseases in the village, as the village consumes water from open sources for a long time. Despite that, authorities are taking no step to provide potable water to Dadasara,” Mir said,  had authorities restored the water scheme in Nowdal on time, the water crisis would have been mitigated.

Another resident Ghulam Mohi-Ud-Din rued, “Dadasara village has a large number of patients, as compared to the other villages in the district, which is only because of contaminated water supply”.

He said that they have “witnessed garbage, decomposed animals and other waste material, many times in the water supply, being provided to them, which is unbearable”.

The residents have demanded immediate intervention of concerned officials into the matter and appealed Governor authorities to take action against the officials involved in making the water scheme defunct at Nowdal, without any relief to the people.

They said that the project should be restored as soon as possible, so that locals may heave a sigh of relief from the water crisis.

Executive Engineer, Jal Shakti (PHE), Riyaz Ahmad, when contacted, told Arising State that he will look into the matter and will investigate the project.

He said that they have already filed the report to higher-ups as well, on the same issue.