Under construction for 10 years, water filtration plant of Safanagri remains non-starter
Shopian: Water filtration plant of Safanagri village in Shopian district is awaiting completion for last ten years, causing great inconvenience to the local residents.
Locals said work on the filtration plant started in the year 2008 by the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Division Shopian is yet to reach anywhere near completion. They say people of the village have already lost hope of getting filtered water – many have already expired since the construction of the plant started.
“Shifting of contractors, inadequacy of funds and similar other excuses are the reason for delay,” they say, adding over the past 10 years only 55% of construction work has been completed.
A local resident of Safanagri village, Ghulam Mohammad Wani said though the construction was started in 2008, the scheme was originally conceptualized way back in 1960. “And we are still to get the pure drinking water,” lamented Wani.
Nayeema Bano, another resident of Safanagri said, the women of the village have to travel to distant places to get water which is very tiresome and problematic.
Nissar Ahmad Shah, Executive Engineer PHE Division Shopian, said in 2008, the estimated cost for the scheme was Rs 2.5 crore, and it was to be completed in three years. “But due to cost escalation on account of pipelines, cement and steel, it could not be completed in due time,” he said.
