Under the much talked about Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), the Government might be achieving target after target in ensuring that every household across J&K gets tapped drinking water. But what is being supplied through those tapped water connections, nobody is bothered about that. We are not talking about the far-flung areas, but about Srinagar city where several areas are being supplied with polluted drinking water which not only exposes the population to serious health risks but at the same time violates basic human rights as well.
Ironically, people are forced to buy mineral water for consumption, and those who do not have such resources, are left with just a few options to ensure that they get clean and pure drinking water. It is a matter of worry that people are forced to consume packaged drinking water in a place which is full of glaciers and rivers that carry crystal and clean drinking water—a mere touch of which can even bring the dead back to life. But what those who are alive are facing depicts the total failure of the administration in ensuring the people—in the areas which are already on the notice of the officials—get pure and clean drinking water.
Over the last few years, with an increase in the number of households, in Kashmir as well as in Srinagar, there have been several instances where people were seen complaining about the scarcity of drinking water and at the same time, there are areas which, no doubt, are getting the water supply, but the same can be used for anything but drinking purposes. The Kathi Darwaza, Saida Kadal & adjacent areas of Nigeen are getting drinking water supply from the Pokhribal Water Supply Scheme, but that is anything but drinking water because that is lifted directly from the Pokhribal side of Nigeen Lake—which apart from being famous is also the destination of sewage drains.
How on earth is that justified? The authorities are making people, in a sense, drink drainage water. Isn’t that inhuman and isn’t that a grave violation of human rights? It is just not about the people of Kathi Darwaza, Saida Kadal or Nigeen who are suffering. Take the example of Basant Bagh. The residents there are literally buying water for drinking purposes because they are being provided water which is not fit for consumption. Oftentimes, they get to greet the worms and other insects, too.
This isn’t it because there is more that can be talked about concerning the deteriorating drinking water supply in Kashmir. The Government must wake up and ensure that its concerned department does not play with precious human lives. First, there is a need for shutting the Water Supply Schemes that are supplying poison in the name of drinking water, starting with the Pokhribal Water Supply Scheme. The water resources are plenty, but it seems that those who are being paid to look around and find such sources have either gone colour-blind or they just do not want to look around. The action is a must because lives are at risk.
