Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Mar 31: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) Pirpanjal president and former MLA Javed Ahmed Rana lambasted the Government over its alleged failure to supply water during the holy month of Ramdhan as people face dearth all across the UT particularly in Poonch area..
In a statement issued to the media, Rana asked the Government that instead of changing names of the departments and localities, it should focus on real issues as changing names will not address the issues of people. He said that the government in J&K has proven to be damp-squib as on ground it has proven to be a total failure. He said that for the first time in the history of J&K people are facing a dearth of water and power during the holy month of Ramzaan.
He said that calling PHE as Jal Shakti can do nothing unless the government will act on ground. He said that all the claims made by the government over schemes of PHE have fallen flat as people are facing acute water shortage. He said that despite knowing that the water table is dwindling, the government is unconcerned, as it has done nothing in the direction of rain water harvesting or rejuvenating forests, which are necessary for water conservation.
“This so-called people-friendly government has closed its eyes towards land erosion, deforestation, and excessive pumping of ground water. The days are not far when the J&K will join the club of states having less water or no water at all, if the people will allow such helmsman to continue to sit at helm”, he said adding that time is running fast and the government should take adequate steps to harvest water and find out new sources for fulfilling needs of the people.
He asked the government to make a Master Plan for Pir Panjal region to conserve water bodies in the region to save people from any water crisis in near future.