Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 24 : Residents of Pohtutepeth village in Handwara area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district accused the Jal Shakti Department of supplying contaminated water to their village.
The residents complained that they are being supplied contaminated water as the filtration plant that was sanctioned in their area is yet to take shape. “The filtration plant was sanctioned to this area at an estimated cost of Rs 3 crore. However, the department built a reservoir instead of filtration plant wherein water is being stored from Pohru river and supplied to the residents without any treatment,” residents said, adding that the hefty amount was withdrawn by some people without the construction of filtration plant.
The locals lamented that the impure water has put the village vulnerable to water borne diseases. “We are using water which is highly contaminated and unfit for cooking and drinking,” a resident said.
Executive Engineer Jal Shakti Department, Zubair Ahmad, said the construction of filtration plant has been put on hold due to scarcity of funds. “We are making sure people get clean water until the filtration plant is made functional,” he said.
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