Srinagar, July 5: The residents of Sultan Mohalla, Saida Kadal staged protests saying they are without water for the last one year since the day supply line feeding them got damaged.
 The residents took out a protest march and blocked the Saida Kadal – Hazratbal road. They were raising anti- government slogans. Inhabitants of the area, irrespective of age and gender participated in the protest rally.
 “The government is least bothered about sufferings of people. Last year, the road was dug for laying sewage pipes, at that time our water supply pipe, got damaged. Since then we are running from pillar to post , to get the supply restored but to no avail,” said Ali Muhammad Akhoon, a local.
 He added: “From last year one year, we are fetching water from the nearby lake which is not pure but contaminated. As a result many residents have fallen sick.”
 “Last month, my mother developed swelling around her face; we took her to hospital where doctors declared it a case of acute infection due to polluted water. We have spent more than 20 thousand rupees on her treatment but she is yet to recover,” another local Aqib Ahmad said.
 “It seems we are living in primitive times and have to walk upto one kilometer to fetch the water from the lake. It is very dirty water but still we have to use it, because we have no other options,” Muhammad Sultan, a local resident lamented.
 The locals alleged that MLA, Mustafa Kamaal paid no heed to their problems.
 Later a team of PHE officials visited the spot and asked the locals to dig the road, so that work of restoration of water supply could be started.
 “But how can we dig the road. It has to be done by the authorities,” the locals argued.
 A PHE official, wishing anonymity told Greater Kashmir that the water supply would be restored within a few days.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 5 Jul 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 5 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 6 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST