Srinagar, Jun 20: Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Commissioner Fazlul Haseeb on Saturday said the civic body has rolled out a 40,000-litre water backup plan to ensure uninterrupted water supply during Muharram-ul-Haram and the annual Amarnath Yatra.
After flagging off four high-capacity water tankers, the Commissioner said SMC has prepared an advance strategy in coordination with the Water Works Division, taking into account lessons learnt from shortcomings witnessed in previous years.
“Important events including Muharram and the Amarnath Yatra are approaching. Keeping these requirements in mind, we have augmented our capacity. These tankers, with a combined capacity of 40,000 litres, will be utilised wherever there is a crisis or gap in water supply,” Haseeb told reporters.
He said after identifying gaps in previous years, the civic body strengthened its preparedness through an Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC), improved planning under capital expenditure allocations and better coordination with concerned departments.
The Commissioner said efforts are also underway to further augment the tanker fleet in coordination with the Water Works Division to improve emergency response capabilities.
He said the administration’s focus remains on ensuring a robust, reliable and efficient water supply system for residents while continuously addressing infrastructural deficiencies.
Explaining the reasons behind recurring water shortages in some localities, he said the city’s growing population, rapid expansion of residential colonies and leakages in the distribution network remain key challenges.
“Earlier, a particular source catered to a limited population. Over time, the number of households and consumers has increased considerably, putting additional pressure on the existing infrastructure. Leakages also contribute to supply losses,” he said.
On the issue of the rising stray dog population in Srinagar, the Commissioner said sterilisation remains the only viable and legally permissible solution. “We are working on a solution and will continue to act in accordance with Supreme Court directions. As of now, sterilisation is the only effective option available,” he said.
Responding to concerns regarding delayed macadamisation works in several areas of the city, the Commissioner said budgeting, administrative approvals and tendering processes have largely been completed, but the availability of bitumen continues to remain a challenge.
“Our tenders are live and approvals are in place. The issue at present is the availability of tar. We are hopeful that the situation will improve soon and road macadamisation works will gain momentum,” he said—(KNO)
