Pulwama’s Hakripora residents protest, demand potable water

PULWAMA — Residents of Hakripora village in Kakapora-Newa hamlet in Pulwama district staged a protest on Wednesday against the shortage of drinking water.

The residents told the news agency KNO that their area is without potable water for years now but concerned authorities have been repeatedly ignoring their grievances.

Sameer Ahmad, a local, said that there are few tubewells available in the village and people are forced to use contaminated water from canals.

Locals said that half of the village is already receiving PHE bills even though there is no water facility available.

“So far, we have been only assured but no concrete step has been taken on the ground even though 14 Kanal state land has been kept for the water supply scheme in the area,” they said.

They added that there is an issue with the path to the land where the water supply scheme will be established which needs to be cleared but authorities are trying to take the scheme to more villages now.