Muneeb Nazeer
Kulgam, Jun 15: Residents of Kanjikulla village in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district have been facing an acute drinking water shortage for the past one month after a spring water supply line from Check to Kanjikulla was allegedly disrupted, causing hardship to nearly 250 households.
Locals told news agency JKNS that although water is reaching their homes through taps, it is not fit for drinking, forcing families to rely on alternative sources to meet their daily needs.
According to residents, the spring line from Check to Kanjikulla was the main source of potable water for the village, and its disruption has left people struggling, particularly amid rising temperatures.
“We have been suffering for the last one month. Water is reaching our homes, but it is not drinkable. We are facing severe difficulties, and the authorities must look into the matter immediately,” several residents told JKNS.
Despite government claims of ensuring tap water connectivity to every household, villagers said access to safe drinking water remains a major concern in Kanjikulla and urged the authorities to restore the spring line without further delay.
The residents appealed to the concerned department and district administration to take immediate steps to restore the drinking water supply and end the month-long crisis.
Meanwhile, Executive Engineer, PHE Kulgam, Er. Ishfaq Hamid, clarified that Kanjikulla village is being supplied water through two sources — the Spring Water Supply Line from Check to Kanjikulla and the newly commissioned Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scheme from Sanman Nallah.
He said the spring line was damaged due to a recent storm and restoration work is currently underway. However, the JJM scheme from Sanman Nallah remains fully functional and continues to supply water to the village.
“The department has already deployed men and machinery at the site, and the damaged spring line is expected to be fully restored by tomorrow,” he said.
Er. Hamid appealed to residents not to panic, stating that alternate water supply through the JJM scheme is available and any local complaints can be reported to the concerned field staff for immediate redressal. (JKNS)
