Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 25: The residents of Leper Colony in Bahrar area of Srinagar have been experiencing a severe shortage of drinking water since the water coming from their taps is murky and unsuitable for consumption.
The inmates, particularly the patients, complained that the government drilled a borewell for them in the colony but it is yet to build an overhead tank where water could be stored or cleaned before being provided to their homes. “I have been without water for a week. I am almost out of the water, with only half a bucket remaining. After that, I have to ask someone to get me water, “Jamal Ahmad, a disabled leprosy sufferer, told Excelsior.
Another patient, Reshma, told Excelsior that she has been facing water shortage for the last week as the muddy water has blocked the water pipe. “I have not got water for last week. I am old and have no one to take care of me. I have been pleading with the officials here to get me some water, but to no avail,” she said, adding that the authorities must provide us with clean water as soon as possible.
The patients claimed that the supply of murky water has made them vulnerable to water-borne infections. “Few years ago Hepatitis-C spread in the colony. Such illnesses may develop again if they continue to give us with filthy water,” a patient said.
Nasir Ahmad, ward 9 corporator in Lalbazar, told Excelsior that the colony always suffers from water shortages during the summers and that officials had drilled a bore well to address the issue. “There is no water tank in which the muck would settle and that is causing the problem,” he said.
He added that they had written to the concerned authorities, and they have guaranteed us that a water tank would be built shortly.
The leper colony, which is tucked away on the outskirts of Srinagar city, is spread out over 60 acres on the bank of Nigeen Lake and has a total of 64 rooms that can accommodate 200 people.
Established during the period of the Britishers, the leper colony was built by the Kashmir Medical Mission in the 18th century. The leprosy patients, ostracised by society, were assembled from various parts of Kashmir and brought to the colony.
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