Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 23: Residents of Chenanware Ratnipora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district today staged a protest against the alleged failure of authorities to provide adequate drinking water facilities to the area.
The protesters said nearly 250 households have been without proper drinking water for years, accusing the concerned departments of prolonged negligence.
They said the crisis has intensified during the holy month of Ramadan, causing severe hardship to families.
According to residents, repeated representations to the authorities have failed to yield results.
“Despite several requests to the concerned officials, no concrete steps have been taken. The authorities remain in deep slumber while we continue to suffer,” a protester said.
One of the demonstrators claimed that the situation has worsened over the past few days.
“For the last four days, we have not even been able to clean utensils. Yesterday during Sehri, we could not even offer prayers because there was no water for ablution. What are we supposed to do?” he said.
He informed that they had approached the Executive Engineer and other officials but the issue remains unresolved.
Residents further alleged that although a water supply scheme at Ratnipora was completed around three months ago after nearly a decade of waiting, their locality was excluded from the coverage.
“We waited for ten years for the scheme to become functional. Now that it is operational, our area has been left out while others are receiving water. We are living near the water supply line, yet we are deprived,” another protester said.
The aggrieved residents have urged Deputy Commissioner Pulwama to personally intervene and ensure immediate inclusion of their locality in the water supply scheme, especially in view of the ongoing month of Ramadan.
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