Shopian: Zainapora, a village located amidst huge Kerawas in district Shopian used to be known as the ‘village of springs’, given the fact that there were a huge number of springs all over but the number have drastically fallen thus challenging the title.
Locals say that a long-time ago there were some 1200 springs in the Zainapora village and this subterranean water was not only used by the inhabitants of Zainapora but the people of other villages too would get benefited.
They say that out of some 1200 only around 300 springs still survive including Kani-Nag, Nil Nag and Varnag.
“Most of the springs vanished with the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits as they would maintain these treating the springs holy and sacred as per their religious traditions,” locals said.
They further said that human indifference and massive encroachment around the springs also resulted into the vanishing of so many springs.
Bilal Ahmad Naik, a local, said, “Most of these water resources vanished due to the negligence of people here and the majority of small springs came under the buildings that were either constructed by public or the government.”
However, Naik said that there are some very famous springs that still exist in Zainapora and the water of these springs is being used by the people of Zainapora and its adjoining areas on a very large scale.
“The remnant springs are under the preservation of local community. People here are doing every possible thing to protect these water resources from getting deteriorated and government has also taken certain measures to protect these springs, as the administration recently fenced off many of them,” said Naik.
“Besides, the PHE department has launched water supply schemes that are aimed to supply water from these springs to other villages,” added Naik.
According to the residents here, one of the spring Varnag holds a religious importance for the Hindus as it stations a famous Temple.
Talking to ‘Kashmir Images’ MLA Wachi, Aijaz Mir said, “More than 8 springs have been fenced under Integrated Watershed Management Program (IWMP), whereas, other big springs will also be fenced soon.”
“The springs of Zainpora are providing drinking-water facility to more than 50 village of district Shopian and their preservation cannot be compromised by the government,” he added.
