Qazigund (Kulgam), April 29: In a remote forested hamlet in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, residents say the promise of safe drinking water remains elusive even decades after Independence. The Gujjar Basti at Pratap Pora Lammar in Qazigund continues to grapple with acute water scarcity, with locals alleging that repeated assurances by authorities have not translated into action.
Despite the Centre’s flagship Jal Jeevan Mission aimed at ensuring piped water supply to every household, villagers here say they have yet to see any tangible change. Residents staged a protest, voicing anger over what they described as long-standing administrative neglect.
“We honoured our elected MLA Peerzada Feroze Ahmad Shah when he visited us, hoping our issues would finally be addressed. But nothing has changed. We are still waiting for water,” said a woman protester.
The residents, largely from the Gujjar community, said they are compelled to walk several kilometres daily to fetch water from distant sources. Women said the burden of water collection has disrupted everyday life and affected children’s education.
“Our children sometimes skip school because we don’t have water to wash their uniforms. This is not how anyone should be living,” another resident said.
Adding to their distress is the hamlet’s location in a forest area, where villagers say they face constant threats from wild animals. “Two minor children have already been killed by a leopard here. Life is already unsafe, and without water, it becomes unbearable,” a resident said.
An elderly villager said the crisis has persisted across generations. “I am over 80 years old and have never seen a proper water supply here. Even for basic religious practices like ablution during Fajr prayers, we struggle,” he said.
Residents have now appealed to Jal Shakti Minister Javid Raina for urgent intervention, expressing hope that their decades-old demand will finally be addressed.
Meanwhile, a senior official in the Jal Shakti Department said that a water supply scheme under the MPLADS/CDF fund had been sanctioned and pipes were already laid. However, the project was stalled due to objections from nearby residents, resulting in continued failure to provide drinking water supply to the hamlet.
