Early Times Report
Srinagar, July 4: In the wake of severe water crises here, which triggers instant roadside protests, the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department has come under scanner for alleged sabotage of the public services only to defame the ruling Peoples Democratic Party-led government.
For the past around a month, the summer capital areas have been facing frequent water scarcity. The residents of these aggrieved areas complained that with taps running dry, the PHE didn't even provide water tankers something which only festered the crises.
In the absence of water inhabitants, mostly women and children take to streets, blocking vehicular traffic on major roads.
But given the ongoing Holy month of Ramazan, the police said it avoids use for force on the fasting protesters. "See we always avoid use of force as it happens to be the auspicious month of fasting whereas protesters happen to be women and children, so what we do is pacify them," said a police official.
But the given the frequent roadside dharnas against poor water supply, the police has started smelling a rat in the PHE's network. "Why is every next area complaining of water crises? When there's nothing wrong in the supply system someone for sure is sabotaging the supplies only to instigate people to stage protests against the government," said a senior official.
Today the busy Batamalloo road witnessed two major dharnas lasting for around two hours each on the day of festive shopping ahead of Eid Ul Fitr. Sources as the SHO Batamaloo rushed to the spot to pacify protesters and assured them that the PHE officials would personally visit the affected area within an hour.
But to everyone's shock, despite assurance from police, no PHE official turned up. After a few hours, the locals again took to streets this time more strongly blocking all routes to south Srinagar, including highway and the road link to Srinagar International Airport, bringing south City to grinding halt.
Finally a team of police officials had to again rush to the spot whereas no PHE official turned up, making police smell a rat in the system.
"We are looking into if there's some sabotage only to bring public resentment against the government... This is what many people strongly feel. The moment we find a clue, we will file a case," said a police official posted in the area.
He said almost everyday the police stations receive complaints of water shortage, followed by protests. "But when we ask them (PHE) they say everything is normal. So something is fishy," said a senior official. |
