Bandipora: Failure of the Public Health Engineering department to restore water schemes in various villages here has deprived inhabitants of potable drinking water.
 In absence of dedicated potable drinking water supply system people are forced to rely on polluted water of streams which takes a heavy toll on their health.
 The villages which face acute water crisis including Ketsan, Maliknar, Turknari, Doban, Vewan, Bhutoo, Haptnaar, Athwatoo, Tangtari, Haipora, Tanghat, Panar, Leharwalpora and Benlipora.
 The affected inhabitants said the PHE department had laid the pipes for supply of drinking water nearly a decade ago.
 However, in absence of maintenance, most of these pipes have been rendered defunct. 
 Inhabitants of Vewan village said the PHE officials never bother to repair the pipes.  “We don’t have proper water supply system except three street taps which are defunct in absence of repairs. Villagers are forced to walk
 four kilometer mountainous track to fetch water from Vij Nallah,” said village head Lal Bhat
 The inhabitants of Maliknar also face similar problems. “The PHE department laid few pipes here is 2007. But in absence of maintenance they have been rendered defunct,” said Muhammad Ahsan a local. 
 The inhabitants of Lehrwalpora village too face hardships in absence of water supply. “We demand a probe to ascertain why the pipes get damaged frequently. The defunct water supply system can’t suffice the needs of huge population here,” they said.  
 When contacted Nazir Ahmed Executive Engineer PHE said that all the defunct water supply schemes in the area would be revamped. 
 “The villages like Turknardi, Chuntiwari, Athwatoo, Panar and other adjoining villages would also get water supply soon. We have started revamping of water schemes in the district,” he said. 

Lastupdate on : Mon, 10 Dec 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 IST