Zaffer Iqbal
Uri, Feb 8 (GNS): All the three Sanitary Reservoirs (SR) constructed in Uri Main are lying in a non-functional state, forcing the thousands of local populace to drink contaminated water.
A delegation of the local population told GNS that the department has spent a huge amount of money to construct three SRs in Uri main town in the year 2018-2019, but none has been made functional so far.
They said that the department has constructed the water plants in Beigh Mohalla Uri, which is 120,000 gallons, Raja Mohalla Uri, which is 60,000 gallons and Upper Banjara Uri, which is 10,000 gallons.
The delegation said that there is already a filter plant in the town of Uri which has become inoperable and is not being fully repaired by the department and they are forced to drink contaminated water. He said that the water scheme of the town of Uri has also been damaged which is not being repaired for a considerable period of time now.
Similarly GNS learnt that a filter plant of 70,000 gallons was constructed for the Uri water scheme in Nambla village Uri in the year 2019, which also has not yet been made functional.
In addition, a filter plant and PST (Pre-sedimentation Tank) construction for Saidpora Uri water scheme in Nambla village of Uri in 2019 which is also yet to be made functional.
People from various areas of Uri and Boniyar have complained that although the department has constructed filter plants, it is a mockery of the name of the filter plant and SR because some of these filter plants are not made functional from the last several years and some which are functional are not fully covered.
Peoples said a dead cat was recovered from the filter plant in Gharkote Uri last few days back. People said that animals entering these filter plants has now become a routine.
The people of Dabkulla Garkote Uri said that they are crying for a single drop of water but the department is not taking any steps for them. They said that they used to get water from the Bandi area but now the water resource of the area is dry.
They said that we have repeatedly told the officers of the department to provide water to their area, but no solution has been found.
People of Bagna Khan Mohalla, Lachipora, Noorkhah, Kenchan, Salambad, Thajal Uri and other areas said that they are facing acute shortage of water but the department is not paying any heed.
They said that engineers of the concerned department have no plan regarding the scheme because the department left earlier schemes aside and laying the other in the same area and wasting government money and not doing any work when it is needed.
When contacted, Executive Engineer Jal Shakti Sub division Uri Irfan Ahmad told GNS that, “I am aware about two SRS which were constructed in Uri town and both will be made functional through the Amrut scheme whose survey is under progress. “We have to fetch the water for the two SRs from Nambla”, he said.
Regarding the uncovered filter plants in Uri, the Exen said that he will talk with the AEE concerned to look into the matter at an earliest. (GNS)
