Srinagar, May 30: Amid a heatwave, various areas of the Valley, especially Srinagar district, are facing a severe shortage of drinking water.
Kashmir is currently experiencing intense heat, with temperatures consistently above 32 degrees Celsius, prompting people to stay indoors. Compounding the difficulties is the severe shortage of drinking water in parts of the Valley.
“Our area has faced a water shortage for the last several days. We have repeatedly brought this to the attention of the concerned officials, but nobody is heeding our pleas,” said residents of Natipora. “We are forced to consume contaminated water from other sources amid restrictions.”
Similarly, residents of Harwan and Shalimar complained of an acute shortage of potable water. “Our women have to fetch water from a long distance. We have approached the officials many times, but our pleas have fallen on deaf ears,” said Ghulam Mohammad, a resident of Shalimar. They mentioned receiving tap water only for a few hours at night.
The residents of old city Srinagar also reported a lack of drinking water. Those in Safa Kadal said they rarely get tap water during the day.
Similar complaints are coming in from various parts of south and north Kashmir, where people are forced to fetch water from streams and consume contaminated water.
According to official data, the total water requirement of Kashmir is around 12 crore gallons per day, with seven crore gallons needed in urban areas and five crore gallons in rural areas.
A senior official of the Jal Shakti Department acknowledged the water shortage, particularly in Srinagar. He stated that efforts are being made to address the issue and ensure people receive an uninterrupted water supply within a few days.
