Sopore faces shortage of 80 lakh litres daily, tanker support inadequate

SOPORE: Amid soaring summer temperatures and mounting public frustration, Sopore town in north Kashmir is facing an alarming drinking water deficit of nearly 80 lakh litres per day, with rural areas adding another 30 lakh litres to the shortfall.

- WARIS FAYAZ

Sopore town, which comprises 21 municipal wards, requires much more than the current capacity to meet its basic water needs. To bridge the gap, authorities have been relying heavily on water tankers. However, only three tankers are currently operational, far short of the minimum 10 required to serve the township. While six tankers were hired for short durations over the past two years, officials within the department admit this was a temporary and inadequate fix. Amid the growing crisis, officials are pinning hopes on the AMRUT 2.0 (Atal Miss