Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 4: A water filtration plant, established at Bonezel in the Sub-District of Kangan in Ganderbal, is yet to be completed despite several years passing, leaving hundreds of households yearning for a drinking water facility.
Locals informed ‘Excelsior’ that work on the plant began five years ago, and at that time, they were assured that the functioning plant would resolve the water scarcity issue in the area for ever.
However, despite the passing years, the assurances given to the people have not resulted in any change, and residents are left with no option but to travel a distance to fetch water and wash their clothes using a water spring.
Zahoor Ahmad Malik, one of the residents, stated, “700 households are living here, and all of them are facing issues, especially during winter.”
He added that there has been no consistency in the work of the filtration plant, leading to the ongoing suffering of the people.
“The work is done for one month, and then for the next several months, there is no work being done at all. There is no consistency due to unknown reasons,” he said.
The locals emphasized that the filtration plant must be completed without delay so that the residents are provided with much-needed relief.
Another resident, Javaid Ahmad, expressed that having the plant completed and operational was a dream of the residents, hoping it would resolve all water scarcity issues.
However, he voiced uncertainty about when the project would be completed, noting that existing old projects were insufficient due to the manifold increase in population.
Saleema Bano, another local, highlighted the difficulties faced by womenfolk in fetching water, especially during winter.
She expressed frustration with the seemingly endless work on the plant and mentioned unsuccessful attempts to communicate with officials.
Officials, on the other hand, claimed that 80 per cent of the project has been completed, emphasizing an issue faced due to a dispute with locals over the raw water supply line.
Samiullah Beigh, Executive Engineer, PHE, explained that the project had been languishing, leading to slow progress, noting that funds are now available for the work to commence soon.
“We have also issued a notice to the contractor which will decide whether he will complete it or we will have to re-tender it. The remaining work would take only one month; it shall be completed in the next 45 days,” he added.
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