Clean Drinking Water and Village Development Our Top Priority: CM Omar Abdullah
TANGMARG: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah yesterday inaugurated five major water supply schemes of the Jal Shakti Department in Tangmarg, emphasizing that these projects are the first step in a larger transformation of the Gulmarg-Tangmarg Assembly constituency.
Implemented at a cost of Rs 35.67 crore, the schemes will deliver clean drinking water via modern Rapid Sand Filtration Plants to 40 habitations, benefiting 5,473 households and over 10,000 families with a total population of 32,838. The newly inaugurated projects include the Lalpora, Chichilora, Kralpora, Ferozpora Shrai, and Kashipora water supply schemes, executed under the Jal Jeevan Mission by the PHE Kashmir FBI Division, Tangmarg.
Addressing a large gathering, the Chief Minister stated that access to safe drinking water is not a favor, but a government responsibility.
“We are repaying the trust you have placed in us. These schemes will ensure families no longer rely on unfiltered river or well water, receiving clean, filtered water directly at their doorstep. But with this facility comes a responsibility—to use water judiciously and conserve it for the future,” he said.
Omar Abdullah highlighted the challenges posed by erratic weather, noting that Kashmir has experienced both droughts and severe floods within a year. He stressed the importance of rainwater harvesting and effective water management to protect resources for future generations.
Referring to the extensive damage from recent floods—including the loss of 330 bridges, 1,500 km of roads, homes, agricultural land, and public infrastructure—the Chief Minister praised the Jal Shakti Department’s engineers and staff for completing the schemes despite these challenges, commending their dedication and commitment.
The Chief Minister further assured that development efforts would extend beyond water supply to roads, healthcare, education, and employment opportunities.
“This Rs 35 crore investment is just the beginning. Over the next four years, we will transform every corner of the Gulmarg-Tangmarg constituency. There will be no village untouched by development, no household untouched by progress,” he said, reaffirming his commitment to inclusive growth.
Expressing his personal connection to the region, Omar Abdullah recalled his family’s roots in Tangmarg and Gulmarg, noting that his grandmother’s family helped put Gulmarg on the global tourism map. He vowed to revive the area’s tourism potential, which was affected by floods and restrictions.
The event was attended by Minister for Jal Shakti Javed Ahmed Rana, Advisor to the CM Nasir Aslam Wani, and MLA Gulmarg Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah, along with senior officials from the Jal Jeevan Mission, engineers, staff, and a large number of local residents.
