Taps running dry, women ferry water from long distances in Shopian villages.
SHOPIAN: About 700 households of Chotipora and adjoining villages in Shopain district are facing acute drinking water shortage from past one month.
The affected villages include Cheki-saidpora, Malik-Saidpora, Banni-Mohalla and Chowhan Mohalla.
Residents, however, alleged that the water scarcity was not a month old problem, but has been an issue over the years.
Ghulam Muhammad, a former deputy Sarpanch of Chottipora village said that they took up the issue with the deputy commissioner and Tehsildar but to no avail.
He said that there were two water supply schemes for the area but both failed due to “callous attitude of authorities”.
“The one water pipeline which gives water to our village gets water from dirty canals which carries pie of cattle and buffaloes,” he said.
Shani Jan, 30, of Chottipora village, who was carrying a water bucket on her head to ferry water from some two kilometers away said, “From past one month there was no tap water supply in the village, if restored the water is muddy, even not in a condition to be used for washing purposes.” Executive Engineer, Public Health Engineering Shopian, Ghulam Ahmed Beig rejected the allegations and said that the villages were getting timely water supply.
“These people are lying, we provide them better water supply, come with me tomorrow and I will show you the drinking water supply in the area,” he said.
He rejected the reports despite being told of the village women ferrying water from long distances, and the taps running dry.