STATE TIMES NEWS
BHADARWAH: Fed up of official promises, the water-starved people of Kishtwar held massive protests and blocked Kishtwar-Jammu National Highway at Malipath.
The water crisis has worsened particularly after the construction of Head Race Tunnel for 390 MW Dool-Hasti power project which passes through Kishtwar town.
With the result, local natural resources as well as springs that used to feed over 50,000 people of Kishtwar town and its adjoining areas have vanished.
To give vent to their frustration, the people of Malipath and its adjoining areas held a strong protest against PHE Department.
They blocked Kishtwar-Jammu National Highway before Tehsildar Kishtwar appeared on the spot, announcing water tanker facility to them till the water supply in these areas is restored.
Reports of water crisis were also received from Poochal, Angrabata, Shaheedi Mohallah, Sarkoot, Girinagar, Cherhar and almost from all 13 wards of Kishtwar Municipality.
Anger among the people was simmering not only against PHE Department but also against the local MLA and MoS Revenue Sunil Sharma who had promised to address the water problem of Kishtwar at first instance.
“Our newly elected MLA shows us dreams of multipurpose Naigard water tunnel, but even after nearly six months after being elected as MLA Kishtwar, he has done nothing.
The situation has gone from bad to worse,” an angry protester said.
The protesters said the announcement of Rs 3.41 Cr for third water lift scheme from Hasti HRT is also a hoax as second water lifting motor is non-functional for last several months which resulted into deepening of water crises in Kishtwar.
“From my childhood I have been listening about Niagard, but it is still incomplete even after 30 years, despite the fact that successive governments spent crores of rupees on this water supply scheme,” said another protester.
He said that previous government had sanctioned Rs 56 crore for new Naigard Water Supply Scheme, but for more than four years only 5 to 10 per cent work on this prestigious water supply scheme considered lifeline for Kishtwar has been completed till date by the Hyderabad-base contractor appointed by the government.
“It is matter of great concern that even during the holy month of Ramzaan, the administration has failed to provide drinking water to the people of Kishtwar,” said Wasim Rao.
He further said that on his initiative Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar constituted a task force a year ago for checking the illegal hooking in Naigard water supply, but one year on the said task force has failed to remove the illegal hooking, thus worsening the water crisis in Kishtwar town and its adjoining areas.
When contacted, Executive Engineer PHE Division Kishtwar blamed the Power Development Department for delay in restoration of second water lifting scheme. He said that his department has made the request to PDD for shifting of transformer adjacent to pumping station so that the problem of voltage dip could be addressed.
He further said that as soon as PDD installs the transformer, the department will restore water pumping from its second water lifting scheme which will provide additional four lakh gallons of water to Kishtwar.
