srinagar  February 03(KNS): Former Minister J&K and Vice President, Pradesh Congress Committee, Ghulam Mohammed Saroori today alleged that the Jal Shakti Department schemes to provide tap water supply to every household has collapsed and urged the authorities to take immediate steps to overcome the problem.

In a statement issued to KNS, , Saroori said that the department has failed in replacing the old rusted pipes with new ones, and the people have been made to drink contaminated water in many places. He said that the water borne diseases are on rise due to the contaminated and unclean drinking water supply.

As far as water supply is concerned, Saroori said that the Jal Shakti Dept’s supply system has not been able to provide it to the people. A large number of areas in Kishtwar and Doda districts are reeling under acute water crisis for the last several months. Taps in several localities were running dry and women in particular were facing huge hardships due to water shortage due to the damaged distribution system and worn out pipes.

“The Department should conduct a survey of the left out areas so that the drinking water is provided to all the people. Not every household is getting the drinking water supply,” Saroori said, while meeting with the Commissioner Secretary Jal Shakti here in his office chamber in Secretariat Jammu to look into the issues of public concern.

The Former Minister apprised him of day to day problems faced by the residents of Doda and Kishtwar districts due to non availability of Pipes in the twin districts and submitted the list of new water supply schemes which needs to be taken under Jal Shakti scheme on priority.  He further urged him that the department should provide 20 kms each rubber pipes for each division for repair of old schemes till the new schemes will be started. He further added that no pipes are available in J&K from the last 6 months.(KNS)