Baramulla, Aug 6: Scores of people from Khanpora Baramulla took to streets and blocked the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway on Saturday against the water scarcity in the area.
 The protestors accused the Public Health Engineering department for its failure to provide them potable water.
 “From the past several days, we have not received even a single drop of water. At a time when people are observing fast, authorities should ensure that people don’t face inconvenience due to shortage of water,” said a protester Abdul Hamid.
 According to the residents of Sopore, Chanderhama, Andergam, Wussan, Kripalpora, Wanigam, their areas were also facing acute scarcity of drinking water from the past several days. “Despite repeated pleas, the concerned department has failed to provide water to the people during this holy month,” the protestors said and threatened to launch more demonstrations if government failed to do anything substantial in this regard.
 When contacted, District Development Commissioner, Baramulla, Bashir Ahmad said the water level in the Jhelum had receded to a great extent. “Even the streams and nallahs have started to dry up,” he said and the main reasons for shortage of drinking water in many areas of the district.
 Bashir Ahmad said that efforts were afoot to provide water to the affected areas through water tankers.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 6 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 6 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 7 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST