MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): In Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), natural springs have started drying up over the past two years due to climate change and government negligence, worsening the Muzaffarabad water crisis, forcing residents to wait hours for water while authorities fail to take action.
The city of Muzaffarabad is enduring an urgent water shortage since its natural water sources which supply clean water are quickly disappearing. Climate change has resulted in multiple hundreds of springs disappearing from the city and its surrounding territory during the last two years. Residents find it harder to obtain drinking water because the available water supply faces severe dwindling levels in remaining water sources.
People throughout the region face prolonged queues while trying to fetch water for one container. The governmental institutions of Azad Kashmir together with their relevant departments have completely ignored taking proper action about this matter. The worsening water crisis has led to no decisive solutions from authorities to either fix the natural springs or establish new water supply systems for impacted communities.
The local Government Department generated more frustration when it acquired millions of rupees in Chinese water filtration plants recently. Reportedly the water filtration equipment received from China has not been properly installed in areas that face the most severe water shortages but has been mistreated through unwarranted distribution to un-equivalent locations. Residents believe the filtration facilities would solve the water shortage but corruption together with negligence turned them into useless assets.
Water resources sustainability in Muzaffarabad’s region faces long-term risks since the springs have fully dried up. Many experts state that without immediate action the water crisis will intensify which will threaten the well-being of numerous inhabitants.
The local population demands immediate intervention from governmental bodies and environmental agencies to implement water preservation programs together with equipment maintenance for sources and equal distribution of filtration machinery. If no action is taken the water scarcity problem in Muzaffarabad will escalate until inhabitants face difficulties obtaining basic water supplies.
