Project now being funded under CSS: X-En
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 22: Eight years after it was launched to address chronic drinking water shortages, the water filtration plant at Haripora in Ganderbal district remains incomplete.
The delay has left hundreds of households dependent on an overstretched old supply system, prompting fresh assurances from officials that testing of the plant will begin by the end of December.
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Local residents told Excelsior that the prolonged delay has severely affected nearly 300 households in the area.
Malik Zahoor, a resident of Haripora, said work on the filtration plant has remained inconsistent over the years.
“The work started in 2017, but it was never carried out regularly, which led to huge delays. We raised the issue with the authorities several times, but it was not taken seriously,” he said.
Zahoor added that the project must either be completed at the earliest or shut down altogether.
“Around 300 households are dependent on this project for proper drinking water. The abandoned structure has now become a hub of social evils, including gambling,” he alleged.
He further said residents are still relying on the old water supply scheme, which, according to them, is proposed to be removed.
“That supply line should be retained in addition to the new filtration plant. We urge the authorities to direct the department to restart the work and make the plant functional,” he said.
Another resident, Ghulam Muhammad Baba, echoed similar concerns, describing the shortage of drinking water in the area as acute and demanding that it be addressed.
“When the work began in 2017, we were hopeful, but the project has remained pending since then,” he said.
Responding to the concerns, Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, Executive Engineer, Jal Shakti Department, Ganderbal, said the Haripora-Bonzil water supply scheme was initially approved at a cost of Rs 5.45 crore and was later transferred to the Union Territory Capex.
“Keeping in view the water scarcity faced by the people, the project is now being funded under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme,” he told Excelsior.
Bhat said the major bottleneck in the project was the raw water main to the filtration plant.
“The raw water main has now been completed as per the initial target, which was an important milestone. By the end of December, we will carry out testing,” he said.
The Executive Engineer added that the project involved two separate contracts-one for the raw water main and another for other components.
“The filtration plant is almost complete. The 1.5-lakh-gallon service reservoir has been completed, while some works, including distribution pipelines, were pending. These issues have now been sorted out, and the contractor will resume work,” he said.
Bhat added that the water filtration plant is expected to be fully functional by the end of the current financial year.
He also said that if the contractor does not finish the work within two months, necessary action will be taken. “We are hopeful that it will be completed. The project is being monitored at the highest level,” he said.
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