Ganderbal: Authorities in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district have completed the construction of five new water filtration plants in Gund tehsil of Kangan sub-division, a move aimed at addressing the long-pending demand of locals for access to safe drinking water. The projects, executed under the Jal Jeevan Mission, were completed at a combined cost of around 5 crore 90 lakh rupees.
Assistant Executive Engineer of the Jal Shakti Department, Shabir Ahmad Masoodi, while speaking to the news agency Kashmir News Trust, said that the new filtration plants have been set up at Fraw, Haknar, Gagangir, Rayil, and Rayil Gund. According to him, the cost distribution includes 45 lakh rupees for the Fraw filtration plant, 78 lakh for Haknar, 79 lakh for Gagangir, 78 lakh for Rayil, and 3 crore 50 lakh rupees for the Rayil Gund project.
He explained that the new infrastructure would significantly enhance the quality of potable water being supplied to locals in the hilly areas of Gund, who had often raised concerns about scarcity and contamination in the past. “From the filtration plants at Fraw, Haknar, Gagangir, and Rayil, locals are already receiving clean drinking water. Within the next three days, supply will also be extended to the population from the Rayil Gund plant, which will provide 9 lakh litres of filtered water daily,” Masoodi said.
The official further confirmed that another important project, the Kulan filtration plant, has been completed but has not yet been commissioned due to a dispute with the landowner. The dispute revolved around the owner’s demand for a government job in exchange for the land where the plant was constructed. After prolonged negotiations, the matter has now been settled, and the department has agreed to provide monetary compensation instead of employment. Masoodi assured that once compensation is disbursed, the Kulan plant will be made operational in the near future.
Locals in several parts of Gund expressed relief at the progress made, noting that for years they were dependent on untreated water sources that frequently caused health-related complaints. Many described the initiative as a major step in addressing a persistent problem. “We often had to fetch water from natural streams, which was unsafe and caused illness, especially among children and the elderly. With these filtration plants in place, we finally expect a lasting solution,” said Abdul Hamid, a local from Haknar.
The Jal Shakti Department has faced multiple challenges in extending clean water facilities to remote and mountainous regions of central Kashmir. Officials highlighted that apart from land disputes, difficult terrain, harsh winters, and the need for continuous maintenance of pipelines have delayed earlier projects. Despite these obstacles, the completion of five plants within Gund has been described as a milestone achievement.
Masoodi pointed out that the Jal Jeevan Mission, under which the projects have been implemented, is focused on ensuring safe and adequate drinking water to every rural household. “These plants are not just about providing clean water today but ensuring a sustainable and long-term drinking water system for the future,” he remarked.
The commissioning of the Rayil Gund filtration plant is expected to ease the strain on existing water sources, particularly in the summer months when demand peaks. Officials said that trial runs have been successful and that supply would begin on a regular basis within the stipulated three days.
Meanwhile, the completion of the Kulan plant remains eagerly awaited by locals in that area. Officials believe that with the land dispute now resolved, the commissioning of the plant could happen before the onset of winter. Once operational, the Kulan facility will further expand the clean water supply network in Kangan sub-division.
The Jal Shakti Department has urged locals to cooperate in safeguarding the new infrastructure, stressing that maintaining these facilities is as important as building them. Community participation, they said, would be essential in ensuring that the plants remain functional and effective throughout the year. [KNT]
