Pattan, July 11: The Department of Archaeology has raised an objection over the Rs 60 crore drinking water supply scheme for Parihaspora claiming the scheme falls within the protected area of a monument.
The claim has however been denied by the officials of the Jal Shakti department. Aghast over the new development, the locals here on Monday staged a massive protest urging the authorities to ensure that the scheme does not face hurdles and should be implemented without further delay.
As per official records, the department of Jal Shakti has recently finalised three water supply schemes for the entire area of Parihaspora, comprising around three dozen villages that have been deprived of the potable water supply for the last four decades.
These schemes include the Regional Parihaspora scheme, JJM Retrofitting, and JJM Peripheral water supply scheme at a whopping cost of over Rs 60 crores. The schemes once completed will ensure drinking water supply for the entire area of Parihaspora. Approved as the Devar-Parihaspora water supply scheme, the water for the scheme will be drawn from the glacier in Ganderbal.
Although the department of Jal Shakti has obtained no objection certificate from all the stakeholders, however, the Department of Archaeology has raised an objection claiming that the scheme falls within the 100-meter protected area of a monument.
However, the officials of the Jal Shakti department claim that the scheme has been conceived after taking all the aspects into account. An official of the Jal Shakti department said that the objection is unwarranted as the department is using its own land and not the protected land. He said that the scheme will be built away from the protected area.
Executive Engineer department of Jal Shakti Baramulla, Aijaz Ahmad said that the department of Jal Shakti has their own land over which they have started the work, which is far from the protected area. “We have obtained NOCs from all the concerned departments, however, the objection raised by the Department of Archaeology is unwarranted as we have not violated any norm set by the concerned department,” said Aijaz Ahmad.
On the other hand, the deputy director of archaeology, Mushtaq Ahmad, said that the issue has been taken up with the higher authorities of the department for further action. He said the Department of Archaeology does not want to become a hurdle in the smooth functioning of the scheme, however, at the same time doesn’t want to allow someone to damage the precious monuments.
“The Jal Shakti department needs to obtain NOC from the Department of Archaeology as the scheme falls within the 100-meter protected area,” said Mushtaq Ahmad.
He said, “The higher-ups of the department have sought the objection report and at the same time the department of Jal Shakti too has filed a blueprint of the scheme. We hope things will be addressed properly and as per law.”
Following the obstacle, scores of local residents here held a protest on Monday claiming that they are being deliberately “victimised.”
“Our women and children have been fetching drinking water from polluted streams for the last four decades and can be seen carrying water pots over their heads and shoulders on the national highway. It is a shame for everyone that an area which used to be capital of Kashmir, has been without drinking water for the last four decades,” said Muhammad Ramzan, a protester while talking to the media.