Cloudburst Rendered Raw Water Unsafe, Supply Suspended as Precaution: AEE Ganderbal

Aqib Rasool 

Ganderbal, Aug 4 (KNZ/TMJ): The suspension of drinking water supply across the Ganderbal Sub-Division following a cloudburst has triggered widespread public criticism, with residents questioning why essential services continue to be disrupted despite the presence of major water supply schemes.

Responding to the criticism, the Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), Ganderbal, said the cloudburst had turned the raw water source highly turbid, making it unsafe for immediate treatment. He said supplying such water would have resulted in muddy water reaching households, prompting public complaints. “To avoid supplying contaminated water, the department temporarily suspended the water supply,” the AEE said.

The explanation, however, failed to satisfy many residents, who argued that the department should have adequate contingency measures to ensure uninterrupted access to drinking water during adverse weather.

“When Ganderbal has such large water supply schemes, why is the supply suspended after every spell of rain? What is the purpose of these schemes if taps run dry whenever it rains? If the system fails after a single cloudburst, how will it function during a real emergency? Even during the devastating floods of 2014, drinking water continued uninterrupted. Today, one spell of rain is enough to leave people without water. There is no prior announcement, no public advisory people simply wake up to dry taps,” a resident said.

Residents urged the Jal Shakti Department to strengthen its emergency response, enhance treatment capacity during periods of high turbidity, and ensure timely public advisories whenever supply disruptions become unavoidable, saying access to safe drinking water is an essential service that should not be repeatedly interrupted.