Water crisis grips Sunjwan Jammu: Barmani Road, Green Valley residents without supply for days

Convener News Desk 

 

Jammu, Jan 02: Residents of Sunjwan, particularly in areas around Barmani Road near Shiv Mandir and Green Valley, are grappling with a severe water crisis, with many reporting that they have been without regular piped water supply for several days, severely affecting daily life.

 

Locals said that even when the water supply is restored, it lasts barely 20 to 50 minutes and remains far too weak to meet basic household requirements.

 

The erratic and short-lived supply has left families struggling to manage essential chores such as cooking, cleaning and personal hygiene.

 

“Even when water comes, mostly after a gap of seven to ten days, it lasts only for 20 to 50 minutes,” said Mohammad Aslam, a resident of the area. “People rush with buckets and bottles, but it becomes impossible to store enough water for our families.”

 

Another resident echoed similar concerns, questioning the practicality of storing water in such a short window. “How is it possible to store water when it comes only for a few minutes?” he asked. The situation, residents said, has turned daily life into a constant struggle, particularly for families with elderly members, children and patients who require regular access to water for health and hygiene.

 

Residents pointed out that as per the official water distribution plan, most areas of Jammu receive water on alternate days. However, they alleged that their locality in Sunjwan is routinely left out of the schedule.

 

“Other localities get water on alternate days, but we remain without supply for long stretches,” said Naseer Ahmad, adding that their area appears to be consistently ignored under the existing distribution system.

 

With no reliable alternative, residents said they have been forced to depend on private water tankers, which they described as an expensive and unsustainable option for most households. “The cost of water tankers is unbearable for poor families,” said Shabir Ahmad, another local resident.

 

He explained that a single tanker costs around Rs 1,000 or even more, an amount that daily-wage earners and low-income families cannot afford on a regular basis. “Poor families simply cannot afford these tankers. Some people are clearly taking advantage of our helpless situation,” Shabir added.

 

Residents also complained about issues related to a government scheme meant to provide subsidised tanker water, alleging that it has failed to offer consistent relief on the ground.

 

According to locals, they have repeatedly approached government authorities, including senior offices, but any relief provided has been temporary. Earlier, residents said they submitted complaints to the Chief Minister’s Office, following which water supply was briefly restored.

 

“Water was provided for only a few days, and then the supply stopped again,” said Fatima Bano. “They gave us water just to quiet us down, but nothing has changed on the ground,” she alleged.

 

The residents stressed that they are not asking for temporary arrangements but a permanent and regular water supply. “We are only asking for a regular and permanent water supply,” locals said, adding that short-term measures do not address the seriousness of the crisis. “We have waited long enough. Water is a basic necessity, not a luxury,” said Bilal Hussain.

 

Residents urged the Chief Minister and the Jal Shakti Minister to intervene directly and ensure a lasting solution to the problem. “Our demand is simple,” a resident said. “We want water to flow from our taps regularly, not promises that dry up after a few days.”

 

Meanwhile, Jal Shakti (Public Health Engineering) Department’s concerned Executive Engineer, Sanjeev Kumar, when contacted, said he was in a meeting and would respond later. However, he did not respond to subsequent calls for comment. His comments will be updated once he is available.— (KINS)