Arrogance, Apathy Define Water Tanker Operations in Crisis-Hit Areas, No Accountability, Even Marriage Halls Left Dry

Srinagar, June 26, KNT: Amid worsening water woes in several localities across Kashmir, the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department is facing growing criticism for its inability to ensure timely water supply through tankers. Residents allege that not only are the services unreliable, but the tanker drivers themselves are operating with impunity and arrogance, often ignoring urgent calls for help.

Locals from several water-scarce areas complained that tanker drivers dispatched by the PHE Department arrive as per their own convenience, with no defined schedule or system. “Sometimes they show up after three days, sometimes not at all, and when they do, their behaviour is rude and dismissive,” said a resident of a water-hit locality in Srinagar.

What has further enraged the public is that even marriage halls, hosting important events with hundreds of guests, are being denied a timely water supply. “We had a wedding last week and made repeated calls to the department, but no one came. We were forced to borrow water from nearby localities,” said the owner of a marriage hall in Pulwama.

Despite repeated complaints, there seems to be no accountability. The drivers are allegedly prioritizing locations as per their preferences or contacts, rather than need or urgency. “They behave as if they are doing us a favour. If someone questions them, they become hostile,” a local from Chanapora told the news agency Kashmir News Trust.

Sources within the PHE Department admitted off-record that there is a lack of monitoring and oversight. “The department has no real-time tracking or response system in place. It is left to the driver’s discretion, which leads to chaos and bias in water distribution,” a source revealed.

The affected population is demanding strict action and a revamp of the entire water tanker distribution system. They are calling for an accountable, transparent scheduling mechanism, especially during peak summer and in localities facing severe water shortages.

The public has also urged the government to step in, warning that continued negligence may lead to mass protests if the issue remains unaddressed. The water right, they say, is not a luxury, but a basic human necessity being denied. [KNT]