Rohoo (Islamabad), July 9: If it is Shahgund in north Kashmir’s Sonawari constituency which is without potable water supply, it is Rohoo in south Kashmir’s Anantang district facing the same problem.
 Exposing the J&K Government’s claim on basic amenities, this village in south Kashmir’s Anantnag (Islamabad) district is still to get potable water supply, though it is located barely at a two-mile distance from the main town of Anantnag. 
 According to residents, the PHE Department has laid water pipes in the village four years ago. But, they said, “We fail to understand why the water supply is not provided to the area.”
 In absence of tap water, the villagers are left with the only option to make use of a few tube wells in the area. “We are made to suffer in absence of potable water. The tube well water is seen by many as unfit for human consumption and even washing and bathing,” said a group of residents, accusing the J&K Government of “failing to keep its word on providing quality water supply in the area.”
 With rise in temperature, people have started complaining of water-borne diseases like diarrhea and vomiting.
 “It is a grave situation. The world has progressed a lot while Kashmir is craving for basic amenities. During the 2008 assembly elections, the Rohoo villagers were promised quality water supply. But as on date, the government is still to keep the promise,” they said.
 A senior medico at Government Medical College Srinagar said there was every possibility of outbreak of epidemic in the area in absence of potable water. “A number of tube wells have come in close contact with washrooms and lavatories. That is certainly going to affect the water drawn from these wells,” he said.

SHAH ASSURES ACTION
 When contacted the District Development Commissioner Anantnag (Islambad) Farooq Shah said the matter would be looked into on priority.
 “There’s no question of any delay in providing water supply to the area. We are committed to provide drinking water to all. I’ll ask the PHE officials to do the needful on priority basis,” Shah told Greater Kashmir.

SHAHGUND RESIDENTS AWAIT ACTION
 Meanwhile, the residents of Shahgund in north Kashmir are up in arms against the Government’s failure to provide safe drinking water to the area. Though the issue has been highlighted by media a number of times, the Government is allegedly unmoved.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 9 Jul 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 9 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 10 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST