Kaksar residents stage protest, seek restoration of water supply

Scores of women block Baroo Road, admin assures action

HABEEL SAGAR

KARGIL: Hundreds of women from Kaksar village along the Line of Control (LoC) staged a road blockade on Wednesday, demanding immediate restoration of drinking water supply after alleging that the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) distribution system had failed, leaving the village without adequate potable water.

The protesters blocked the Baroo road, accusing the authorities of failing to resolve the prolonged water crisis despite repeated appeals. They said the disruption in supply had severely affected households, forcing residents to struggle for drinking water and other essential domestic needs.

Raising slogans against the departments concerned, the women called for urgent intervention to restore the water supply and prevent further hardship. The demonstration continued until senior civil and police officials reached the site to engage with the agitating residents.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Kargil, Additional Assistant Development Commissioner (AADC), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP), Station House Officer (SHO) Baroo, Councillor Bambat Mohd Wahid and Councillor Mohd Altaf interacted with the protesters and reviewed the situation on the ground.

The officials assured the villagers that immediate measures would be initiated to restore the drinking water supply and that their grievances would be addressed on priority.

Following the assurance, the protesters dispersed, while maintaining that they would continue to press for a lasting solution if the supply was not restored. The protest once again brought into focus the challenges of ensuring uninterrupted drinking water supply in remote border villages and underscored growing public concern over the functioning of water infrastructure in the area.