CM Omar Inaugurates Rs 35 Crore Water Supply Schemes in Tangmarg

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday inaugurated five major water supply schemes in Tangmarg, describing them as the beginning of a wider transformation in the Gulmarg–Tangmarg Assembly constituency.

Built at a cost of Rs 35.67 crore under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the projects will provide filtered drinking water through Rapid Sand Filtration Plants to 40 habitations, covering 5,473 households and more than 10,000 families, benefiting a population of 32,838. The schemes include Lalpora, Chichilora, Kralpora, Ferozpora Shrai and Kashipora, executed by the PHE Kashmir FBI Division Tangmarg.

Addressing a gathering, Abdullah said access to clean drinking water was the government’s duty, not a favour. He urged residents to use the resource responsibly, stressing the importance of water conservation in the face of erratic weather patterns that have brought both drought and floods in recent years.

He praised the Jal Shakti Department engineers for completing the schemes despite the massive damage caused by recent floods, which washed away 330 bridges and 1,500 kilometres of roads while damaging homes, farmland and infrastructure.

The Chief Minister further pledged improvements in roads, healthcare, education and employment opportunities, promising that the Rs 35 crore investment was “just the beginning” of broader development in the region.

Highlighting his family’s longstanding association with Tangmarg and Gulmarg, Abdullah said he was determined to revive the region’s tourism potential after years of setbacks. Minister for Jal Shakti Javed Ahmed Rana, Advisor to CM Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Gulmarg Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah and senior officials of the Jal Shakti Department were also present.