Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Jan 19: The depletion of water resources and lack of funding have been affecting the water supply schemes in Kashmir valley and parts of Jammu region.
The water bodies have depleted in Kashmir and parts of Jammu region due to freezing temperature, resulting the water supply are getting affected. "There are already hundreds of schemes, which have got affected by the freezing temperature," an official said.
An official document reveals that there are 2,004 piped water supply (PWS) schemes under various stages of implementation in the state.
Out of these, 786 are multi-village PWS, 507 are single village PWS, and 711 tube wells, hand pumps.
However, work has been either been stopped or going at slow pace in 1,600 water supply schemes for want of funding, an official of Public Health Engineering Department, said.
At least 294 schemes were sanctioned for Jammu district, 168 for Rajouri, Poonch 89, Kishtwar 99, Kathua and Samba 72 each. While for Leh and Kargil districts of Ladakh region, 149 schemes were allotted
Similarly, Baramulla was allotted 173 schemes, Anantnag 156, Budgam 111, Kupwara 109, Kulgam 101, Shopian 90, Srinagar 98, Bandipora 89, and Ganderbal 73.
The PHE department stipulates a per capita supply of 135 litres in the cities, 70 litres in towns and 40 litres in villages.
Rural Kashmir suffers most during summers as the department currently supplies 75 million gallons a day (MGD) against a requirement of 85 MGD, the official said.
At the same time, several areas in Kashmir are facing water shortage, bringing inconvenience to the people.
"Our area always faces shortage of drinking water," said Mohammad Shafi, a resident of Pampore.
Ghulam Mohammad Ahmad, a resident of Old Baramulla too complained that they experience water shortage. "We rarely receive tap water during the day," he added.
The PHE department is also grappling with the loss of water due to the obsolete distribution system and inefficient filtration plants in place.
"We need robust funding from the Centre to revamp the entire distribution system," another official of PHE department said.
The official said that state was receiving over Rs 500 crore per annum under National Rural Development Water Programme till 2014.
"Since then, there has been decline in the centre's funding and get half of its funding annually," the official said. |
