Though Safe drinking water facility is a priority for the government keeping in view it’s promise to take drinking water facility at the doorsteps of the people but much before the commencement of summer season the water pipes in most of the areas of Srinagar city particularly South Srinagar are running dry for over a fortnight now. Despite public outcry the city water works division the management of which has been taken over by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation almost two years back is supplyling drinking water in tankers in most parts of the Srinagar city particularly South Srinagar areas like Parraypora, Sanantnag, Hyderpora and Humhama. Unfortunately the city water works division commanded and controlled by Srinagar Municipal Corporation takes care of it’s commercial consumers particularly hotels and private school but does not pay heed to complaints of general consumers even over demands for water tankers in the absence of regular flow of water to the residential localities. Ironically complaints of contaminated water are also pouring in from several areas of Srinagar city but the city water works division commanded and controlled by Srinagar Municipal Corporation does not pay any heed to the rising public complaints on this count. Though deepening water crisis in most parts of South Srinagar just weeks before the commencement of summer season this year has triggered fears about an acute water shortage crisis in mid-summer months not only in Srinagar city but also in most of the towns and rural areas of Kashmir valley but quiescent approach of the authorities of city water works division and officials of Jal Shakti department in other parts of Kashmir valley has reduced the hopes of early restoration of water supply in most parts of Srinagar city. Keeping Srinagar residents fuming over the deepening water crisis in the residential areas of the city shows that Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has lost control over the city water works division Srinagar commanded and controlled by it for last more than two years.
Morality demands that when the consumers are paying the charges for the services they avail, the Jal Shakti department owes explanations for lapses in the distribution of water to the consumers in both Kashmir valley and as well as Jammu division. It is for the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to regulate the supply of drinking water facility in residential areas of Srinagar city and likewise the onus of regulating drinking facility in other parts of Kashmir valley lies on Jal Shakti department’s divisions and sub divisions across Kashmir.
Recently water bills were dropped at the doorsteps of the people in residential areas and most of the consumers have paid the pending bills for the services they have availed so for. Morality demands that when the consumers are paying the charges for the services they avail, the Jal Shakti department owes explanations for lapses in the distribution of water to the consumers in both Kashmir valley and as well as Jammu division. It is for the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to regulate the supply of drinking water facility in residential areas of Srinagar city and likewise the onus of regulating drinking facility in other parts of Kashmir valley lies on Jal Shakti department’s divisions and sub divisions across Kashmir.
