Excelsior Correspondent
MENDHAR, June 3: Saloni village of Martyr Aurangzeb in Mankot tehsil of Mendhar sub-division in Poonch is facing severe water crisis and locals of the area today held protest against Jal Shakti Department for non-availability of drinking water.
The locals from Salani and nearby villages gathered in the area to protest over non-availability of water, which according to them has been an issue for the past several years. People raised slogans against the Jal Shakti Department during the protest.
Sarpanch of Sailani village, Mohd Khalid Choudhary along with villagers accused the administration and Jal Shakti Department of non-seriousness on their part. He said that for the past many years, people are craving for water but till date no administrative officer has listened to them. He said that many a times, they visited the offices of Jal Shakti Deptt, SDM Mendhar and District Development Commissioner Poonch but we were sent back only after giving assurances.
Locals alleged that the women of the area have to walk several kilometers to fetch water from local old sources. They said that a lift scheme was also prepared in the village by the Jal Shakti Department since 2006, but that too has been in lying in dilapidated condition for a long time.
Meanwhile, the local people have sought the intervention of the office of the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir in the matter.
Follow our WhatsApp channel