Rs 6 crore water tank in southern Kashmir left useless due to poor planning

PULWAMA — In a shocking case of mismanagement and waste of public funds, a water tank worth Rs 6 crore was constructed in the Mirpora Dadasara area of southern Kashmir’s Tral town, only to remain non-functional due to the absence of a dedicated water source.

The tank, built under a Public Health Engineering (PHE) scheme, was connected to a nearby canal instead of having an independent water source. When the canal dried up, the entire project was rendered useless.

This glaring oversight has left the water tank as nothing more than an empty structure, a stark reminder of poor planning and engineering negligence. The scheme, which was meant to alleviate the water crisis in the area, has instead added to the frustration of residents who continue to suffer from acute water shortages.

Local residents are demanding a thorough investigation into the project, holding the PHE Department and the engineers responsible for this massive waste of public money. “This is nothing short of criminal negligence. Spending Rs 6 crore on a project without ensuring a sustainable water source is unacceptable. We demand a probe into this matter and strict action against those responsible,” an unnamed local was quoted as having said by the local news agency CNS.

The entire tehsil of Tral is grappling with a severe water crisis, with locals struggling to meet even basic water needs. This useless project has further highlighted the dire need for accountability and proper planning in public infrastructure projects.

Locals have appealed to higher authorities to take immediate action, investigate the matter thoroughly, and ensure that such blunders are not repeated in the future.