Tangmarg: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said ensuring access to safe drinking water was not a favour but the government’s responsibility.
He made these assertions as he inaugurated and dedicated to the public five major water supply schemes of the Jal Shakti Department in Tangmarg, promising that these schemes mark only the beginning of a broad transformation of the Gulmarg-Tangmarg Assembly constituency.
Constructed at a cost of Rs 35.67 crore, the schemes will provide clean drinking water through modern Rapid Sand Filtration Plants to 40 habitations, covering 5,473 households and over 10,000 families with a population of 32,838. The projects inaugurated today include Lalpora, Chichilora, Kralpora, Ferozpora Shrai and Kashipora water supply schemes, executed under the Jal Jeevan Mission by the PHE (Kashmir FBI Division Tangmarg), an official press release informed.
It said addressing a large gathering after the inauguration, the Chief Minister said ensuring access to safe drinking water was not a favour but the government’s responsibility.
“We are only repaying the trust you have placed in us. These schemes will ensure that families no longer have to depend on unfiltered water from rivers and wells, but will now get clean, filtered water right at their doorstep. But with this facility comes a responsibility—to use water judiciously and conserve it for the future,” the Chief Minister said.
Highlighting the hardships caused by erratic weather patterns, Omar Abdullah said Kashmir had witnessed both drought-like situations and devastating floods within a year. He underlined the need for rainwater harvesting and better water management to safeguard resources for coming generations.
Referring to the massive damage caused by recent floods, including the loss of 330 bridges, 1,500 km of roads, homes, agricultural land and public infrastructure, the Chief Minister praised the engineers and staff of the Jal Shakti Department for completing the schemes despite such difficult challenges. He felicitated the officials for their dedication.
The Chief Minister also assured the people that his government would not stop at water supply projects but was committed to improving roads, healthcare, education, and employment opportunities in the region.
“This investment of Rs 35 crore is just the beginning. In the next four years, we will change the map of the Gulmarg-Tangmarg constituency. There will be no village where development does not reach, no household where progress does not knock at the door,” Omar Abdullah said, reaffirming his promise of inclusive development.
Expressing his deep personal connect with the area, Omar Abdullah recalled his family’s roots in Tangmarg and Gulmarg. He said it was his grandmother’s family that first put Gulmarg on the global tourism map, and vowed to ensure that the region’s tourism potential was revived after setbacks caused by floods and restrictions.
Minister for Jal Shakti Javed Ahmed Rana, Advisor to CM Nasir Aslam Wani and MLA Gulmarg Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah also addressed the gathering. Senior officers including Mission Director Jal Jeevan Mission, Chief Engineer Jal Shakti Kashmir, Superintending Engineer, AEE Tangmarg, engineers, staff and a large number of locals were present on the occasion.
All is not well sir…
“It is very unfortunate and alarming that contaminated water is being supplied through pipes for drinking purposes. Which results many waterborne diseases in the area. If we have 14 filtration plants in Gulmarg sub-division why only four plants are functional. Govt has to take necessary steps to make all filtration plants functional to provide portable drinking water for the area and to save precious lives from waterborne diseases especially. Specifically, the children of the area are getting impacted,” said Sheikh Nazir Ahmad, DDC member Kunzar.
