Tauseef Ahmad
BANDIPORA, Sep 13: The villagers of Saderkot Payen of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district Tuesday blocked Srinagar Bandipora road against the lack of potable water supply in their village.
The protesters while talking to Kashmir Despatch said that the issue of the lack of basic water facility has not been addressed for several years now despite numerous requests from the residents to the concerned department.
The residents further said that they do not receive regular potable water supply causing them hardships in their day to day life. “Our children quite often fall sick by drinking unsafe and mud-filled water from nearby streams,” a protester told Kashmir Despatch, adding their repeated pleas are falling on deaf ears.
Accusing the concerned Jal Shakti department officials for ignoring their pleas, residents demanded their issue should be resolved as soon as possible. The residents alleged that the water supply scheme has been sanctioned for the area but the department tries to shift this scheme to another area. “We have to go one kilometer by foot to fetch water for our family. The authorities have failed to give us portable water supply till date,” added Faze Begum a local women from Saderkot Payen Bandipora .
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Dr Owais Ahmad after visiting both the spots assured people that the water supply scheme shall remain for the said area and only after this assurance the protesters called off their agitation.
