Srinagar, Nov 18: Despite the government’s repeated assurances of providing safe drinking water across Jammu and Kashmir, the remote hamlet of Dardpora Lolab in north Kashmir continues to grapple with acute water scarcity and contaminated supplies, placing its vulnerable population—including the elderly and children—at serious health risk.
Local residents said that, despite the establishment of a vital water supply project under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), their village remains deprived of clean water. “We have approached the concerned offices on multiple occasions, but our grievances continue to fall on deaf ears,” the inhabitants lamented.
According to the villagers, the little water that does reach them is so dirty and muddy that “even animals would refuse to drink it.” They also revealed that the main water tank in the area is left uncovered, allowing monkeys and other animals to drink from it, further contaminating the water that is later supplied to homes. This, residents say, has led to a rise in waterborne illnesses in the community.
The residents of Dardpora Lolab and nearby hamlets have urgently appealed to authorities for intervention. They claim that while water from the JJM project has been supplied to distant areas, their own locality was neglected. Instead, water is channeled to them via a pipe running through an open drain, past a small, uncovered bank, leaving it exposed to contamination by rats, monkeys, and other animals.
“We have provided video evidence of these appalling conditions, but no action has been taken so far,” the locals said, adding that the area has been without potable water for the last two months. While some farmers from outside the area manage to bring water for irrigation, residents themselves remain deprived of clean drinking water.
Repeated complaints to the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) and even written submissions over the past four months have yielded no results, with officials citing the need for higher approval before taking any action. “Officials keep making excuses and refuse to take responsibility,” the residents alleged.
Now, the villagers are urging senior government officials to visit the area, verify their claims firsthand, and end their ordeal. “If our complaints are unfounded, we will accept responsibility—but if they are true, our misery must come to an end,” the residents said, renewing their call for the immediate provision of clean water to Dardpora Lolab.
Despite repeated attempts, the officials of Jal Shakti could not be contacted for comments—(KNO)
