Handwara,May,13:Residents of Khanpora Magam in Handwara sub-district staged a strong protest on Tuesday against the acute water crisis that has gripped the area for years. The aggrieved locals took to the streets, expressing deep resentment over what they termed as official apathy and unfulfilled promises by elected representatives and concerned departments.
According to the protesting villagers, despite repeated pleas to the authorities, their grievances have gone unheard. "We have been facing water scarcity for several years now. All assurances made by officials and political leaders have proved hollow," said one protester.
The locals alleged that during the financial year 2022-23, the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Division Handwara initiated the construction of a water storage tank under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), officially named WSS-Khanpora. As per official records, the work order for the project was issued on January 14, 2023, with a total sanctioned cost of ₹61.852 lakh. However, over a year later, the construction remains incomplete, with the work passing through different contractors including Wani Brothers, causing prolonged delays.
"The work is still ongoing with no visible signs of completion. Despite voting and supporting our representatives for the sake of development, our basic needs remain unaddressed. It’s extremely unfortunate," lamented a local resident.
In their protest, the villagers appealed to the Lieutenant Governor’s Administration and District Development Commissioner Kupwara, Ayushi Sudan, to intervene personally and ensure the immediate completion of the project, restoring adequate water supply to the area.
Speaking to HEADLINES TODAY, Executive Engineer PHE Handwara, Bilal Ahmad, acknowledged the issue and assured the public that the matter would be resolved within a week.
The residents, however, remain cautiously optimistic, hoping that this latest assurance will translate into tangible action.
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