Clean Drinking Water to Reach Multiple Water-Scarcity-Hit  Villages of Central Kashmir’s Budgam

Srinagar, Dec 22, KNT: A cluster of new water supply schemes developed under the Jal Jeevan Mission is set to ease long-standing water scarcity for more than 21,000 people in Charar-e-Sharief, a block of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district, marking a significant improvement in the region’s basic infrastructure and public health conditions.

An official told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that the projects, collectively valued at Rs 20 crore, are designed to provide Functional Household Tap Connections to families across multiple villages that have struggled for years with irregular or inadequate water access. The official added that the upgraded system will supply clean, treated and pressurised drinking water directly to homes, reducing dependence on unsafe sources and tanker-based supply.

Localities such as Kaisermulla, Kadipora, Kulmach Objipathri, Hakhpora Haptnar and Sheer Check are among the major beneficiaries. Many of these areas have faced recurring shortages, particularly during summers, forcing inhabitants to spend hours collecting water from shared points or far-off springs.

With the new network in place, households are expected to receive a reliable daily supply, which officials say will significantly cut the physical burden on women, improve hygiene standards and lower the incidence of water-borne illnesses. The direct pipeline system is also expected to stabilise availability during peak demand periods.

Field engineers said the infrastructure has been built to sustain long-term demand and ensure consistent delivery even during harsh winters when water scarcity intensifies in upper belts.

According to officials accompanying the inspection teams, the schemes mark an important step toward ensuring that rural families in Charar-e-Sharief have access to safe drinking water inside their homes, improving both quality of life and health indicators across the constituency. [KNT]