Water scarcity goes unheard at Baramulla district for months

Adil Akhzer

Mirgund, July 21

Severe water scarcity for the past few months was the reason behind a clash between locals and security forces in the Mirgund area of Baramulla district on Friday. The protesters later resorted to stone pelting, which was first major clash between locals and security forces in the Valley last week since 2019.

“Water is a basic necessity. On Friday, the situation reached an alarming proportion when villagers said they were ready to sacrifice anything to get their voices heard,” Abdul Rehman Dar, former sarpanch of Chainabal area in Baramulla district, told The Tribune on Sunday.

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People from Chainabal village of Baramulla district, which borders Srinagar district and has a population of around 5,000, blocked the Srinagar-Uri national highway on Friday over the shortage of drinking water. However, the situation later escalated as protesters resorted to stone pelting, leaving several people injured and many vehicles damaged.

It was the first major clash between locals and security forces after the abrogation of Article 370 in the Valley.

The locals, however, said they approached the authorities concerned several times to address the problem of water shortage, but to no avail. “Everyone is aware of the problem. But, it has not been resolved yet,” said Mohammed Yousuf, a villager.

He said the villagers had only two options either to fetch dirty water from a nearby nullah or arrange private water tankers. Tap water or tankers provided by the government failed to cater to their needs.

During a visit to the village on Sunday, this correspondent found several women washing clothes from dirty water in the nearby nullah. A woman said their children “had fallen ill after consuming dirty water.” “We are forced to take this water home, boil it and then consume it,” she said.

The villagers said they had adequate water supply for a year when Imran Raza Ansari was minister in the PDP-BJP coalition government and was their MLA.

“People are now becoming victims of misgovernance,” Ansari told The Tribune.

Fayaz Ahmad, another local resident, blamed the police officials for not handling the situation properly on Friday. Fayaz said, he along with another villager, approached the local police post to inform them that they wanted to hold a peaceful demonstration on the road over water shortage. However, they were “detained.”

The locals alleged that when protesters were giving way to an ambulance, the police forcibly tried to open the road, which was blocked by irate villagers. “In the meantime, a woman protester was hit, which triggered the clashes,” said Ali Mohammad, a local. The police also used teargas shells to disperse the protesters.

During the clashes, two BJP leaders, who were travelling on the highway, also got stuck in the protest. The leaders said the mob attacked them too. Their police security officers (PSOs) opened fire in the air in self-defense.

The locals, however, praised Baramulla SSP Amod Nagpure for bringing situation back to normal immediately. He turned out to be a people’s officer, said a local. Urging people not to resort to stone pelting, Nagpure on Friday said their issues could be resolved through talks. A villager said the authorities had been sending water tankers, but it was not enough for them.

Vivek Kohli, Chief Engineer, Jal Shakti (PHE) Department, Kashmir, said a water scheme would be operational soon and would benefit the village. Water was also being supplied through tankers.

Another PHE official said there was no working water supply in the area. At present, the village was getting water supply from “Sukhnag Scheme of master plan Division Srinagar under a temporary arrangement.”

“We have issued instructions to the staff to inspect water pipes. We are also regulating water supply so that it reaches this village as well,” he said.