Katra faces water shortage

Katra faces water shortage
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Katra, June 16
Katra, the base camp of the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, has been facing drinking water shortage for the past several days.

A visit to various streets and markets of the town revealed that shopkeepers were selling bottles of water. Some residents were providing water free of cost to pilgrims.

Local residents and hoteliers alleged that they had to buy water from tankers to meet their daily requirements.

“There is a nexus between companies manufacturing mineral water bottles and officials of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, which has created the water shortage. We are dependent on tankers, which cost between Rs 600-700 each,” said hotel owner Bhushan Sharma.

He said they had taken up the issue with the authorities, but no steps had been taken to end the shortage. “Since, the PHE Department has failed to provide adequate water to the town, it should seek the help of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), which can solve the problem as there is no water shortage on the track from Katra to Bhawan,” added Bhushan.

Local MLA Baldev Raj Sharma said he was helpless. “A large number of tourists visit the town between May and June. The department concerned has failed to take steps to end the crisis,” he said and added that he had even raised the issue in the state Assembly.

“The supply of water to Katra is only 5 lakh gallons at present against a requirement of 20 lakh gallons daily. Erratic power supply has added to the problem,” he alleged.

He also pointed out that the natural water sources from where the authorities used to bring water had turned dry and they were totally dependant on the Jhajjar water lifting project, which is almost 13 km away from the town.

Sham Lal Kesar, president, Katra Hoteliers, Restaurants and Lodges Association, also criticised the state government and appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Governor NN Vohra to take steps to solve the problem.

A senior official of the shrine board said that on an average, nearly 35,000 to 40,000 pilgrims visited the holy cave shrine daily.

Minister for PHE Taj Mohi-ud-Din said, “The shortage of water happens in the summer. However, we have started a number of projects in the area, which will solve the problem”.

Courtesy: The Tribune