Excelsior Correspondent
BHADERWAH, Jan 11: As Chenab region particularly Bhaderwah faces the harshest winters, the residents of Sunote village in Thubba Panchayat are beset with new problems of water crisis.
Frozen taps and overground gravity lines have plunged the area into a severe water crisis leaving villagers to travel miles in search of potable water in sub zero temperature.
The water supply lines in Sunote village which is located on a hilly slope in dense cedar forest have frozen as the region has been witnessing sub-zero temperatures with mercury dipping to a record low in 28 years in Bhaderwah.
As the night temperature hovered below the sub-zero levels continuously for more than two months, it had a cascading effect on the water supply lines in far-off areas of the Bhaderwah like Sunote village.
Sunote village, which comprises of nearly two dozen houses, including 6 tribal Gujjar families, women folk of these families (mostly farmers and cattle rarer) have no other option but to trek the treacherous terrain of nearly 2 kilometres in groups to collect snow and later boil it to water for day today use.
This is the only choice they have, as political representatives and administration are allegedly mute spectators despite several centrally sponsored flagship schemes especially for downtrodden sections and those living in far-off villages.
Young generation of this village seems to be the worst sufferers as some of the students have to leave their studies because of the paucity of water.
Executive Engineer PHE Division Doda, Satish Sharma said that he is equally concerned about the problems being faced by these poor people in absence of potable water.
“I will send my team headed by AEE there tomorrow morning and will also visit there personally as the issue raised by the villagers is of very serious nature”, he added.
“I assure you that the potable water supply to Sunote village will be restored at the earliest and we will also try and look other natural resources to tap them for permanent solution”, he stated.
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