Pattan, February 25(JKNS): Residents of Behrampora and Tilgam on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest on Tilgam Main Road against the Jal Shakti (PHE) Sub-Division Pattan, demanding immediate intervention to address their water supply issues.
The protesters raised slogans in support of their demands and urged the concerned authorities to take swift action. They stated that while a new main water supply line is currently being laid for Wanigam Bala, with a trench already dug along the roadside, the authorities should simultaneously lay a new main line for Tilgam Colony and Behrampora.
According to the residents, the existing pipeline in the new colony is old and dilapidated, with frequent leakages and damage at multiple points. As a result, water supply remains irregular, causing significant inconvenience to the public.
The protesters emphasized that laying the new pipeline at this stage would prevent the need for repeated road cutting in the future. They pointed out that the road was recently constructed after considerable effort and expenditure, and any fresh excavation could damage the surface and lead to wastage of public resources.
Residents further said that although the Central Government’s Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scheme aims to ensure safe drinking water to every household, New Chinar Colony Tilgam and Behrampora have not yet benefited from the scheme. They demanded that these areas be immediately included under the JJM to ensure a regular supply of potable water.
Meanwhile, when contacted, a responsible officer of the department stated that providing water supply to the public remains the department’s top priority. He added that technically, where two main lines are not required, only one main line is laid, and all decisions are taken based on expert technical reports and ground assessments.(JKNS)
The residents appealed to the PHE Sub-Division Pattan to take their grievances seriously and adopt appropriate measures to ensure a reliable and sustainable water supply to the people of Tilgam Colony and Behrampora. The protest later concluded peacefully.