Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 25: Residents of Ward Number 31, Bhagwati Nagar, today staged a protest against the Jal Shakti Department over irregular and inadequate water supply, which has worsened during the ongoing hot and humid weather conditions.
Raising slogans, locals gathered on the main road, accusing the department of failing to ensure a basic necessity — drinking water — especially during the peak of summer and the onset of monsoon. Protesters, including several women, expressed their frustration, alleging they have been without regular water supply for over a week.
“The water pipes in the area are completely choked, and the tanker service provided by the department is insufficient to meet our daily needs,” a protesting resident said. Many claimed that the scarcity has affected daily chores, and even drinking water is now a major concern.
This recurring issue, residents said, surfaces every year during the summer months, yet no long-term solution has been implemented. “We suffer the same crisis every year, and our complaints go unheard. This time we had to come out on the roads,” said another local.
The protest prompted a visit by local MLA Arvind Gupta, who reached the spot and interacted with the aggrieved residents. Acknowledging the severity of the issue, the MLA assured that immediate steps would be taken to address the water crisis.
“I have directed the concerned officials to prepare an estimate within days for laying new water supply pipelines in the area. This will be pursued on priority to provide the residents with long-term relief,” Gupta said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
