The prolonged delay in the completion of the Water Filtration Plant under the Mono Project in Charar-i-Sharief has sparked widespread concern among residents and public representatives, who fear a looming public health crisis amid the ongoing summer season.
Advocate Javed Hubi, Senior Leader of the Awami Ittehad Party, voiced strong criticism over the inordinate delay in deslitting and operationalizing the filtration facility meant to serve Charar-i-Sharief town and adjoining villages. Launched with the aim of providing clean and safe drinking water to the region, the project has faced repeated halts, with little visible progress on the ground.
Advocate Hubi stated, “The residents have been left with no option but to consume untreated and potentially unsafe water due to administrative apathy. Despite multiple commitments from concerned departments, the project remains stuck in limbo.”
He emphasized that the delay is not just a matter of poor governance but a direct threat to public health, particularly as demand for clean water surges during the summer months. With rising temperatures and limited access to potable water, the risk of waterborne diseases is growing, raising alarms among health professionals and local leaders alike.
Hubi further called on the Budgam district administration and the Jal Shakti Department to take immediate and decisive action. “The people of Charar-i-Sharief have waited long enough. We demand a clearly defined timeline for the completion of the project, as well as an accountability report detailing the reasons behind this delay and the steps being taken to address it.”
Local residents echoed similar sentiments, lamenting the lack of basic amenities in a region that has long struggled with infrastructure deficiencies. “We were hopeful when the Mono Project began. But now, years later, we’re still fetching water from unsafe sources. It’s disheartening,” said a resident from an adjoining village.
This is not the first time infrastructure projects in the region have been marred by delays. However, given the essential nature of clean drinking water, public pressure is mounting for the administration to act swiftly and transparently.
With growing civic outrage and political advocacy gaining momentum, all eyes are now on the local authorities and the Jal Shakti Department to ensure that the Charar-i-Sharief Water Filtration Plant is completed and made operational without further delay — before preventable health issues take root.