Tahir Mushtaq
JAMMU, Aug 4: Even as close to 20,000 pilgrims are daily visiting the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi, Katra is facing drinking water shortage of nearly 6 lakh gallons per day.
According to the sources, as against the requirement of 12 lakh gallons daily supply has fallen to 6 lakh gallons, which has worsened the situation in the entire town, hoping to attract one crore pilgrims in 2010.
Sources said that conditions are likely to worsen in coming months as the number of pilgrims will increase owning to approaching peak season, after the completion of Lok Sabha polls and summer vacations across the country.
Official sources said that for last two months on an average nearly 12,000 to 18,000 pilgrims are daily visiting the shrine which has put additional burden of the scarce water resources in and around the town.
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 Amit Sharma.
MLA Baldev Raj Sharma said he was helpless. “A large number of tourists visit the town between May and August. 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.
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”.
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