The protesting villagers alleged that the public health engineering (PHE) has failed to provide adequate drinking water supply in their area from past several years.

Scores of residents of Saidpora village in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday staged a protest against the shortage of drinking water.

The protesting villagers alleged that the public health engineering (PHE) has failed to provide adequate drinking water supply in their area from past several years.

“We are being forced to drink contaminated water from streams and ponds,” said Manzoor Ahmad, a protester.

He said the residents approached the authorities several times but to no avail.

The protesters appealed to Governor Satya Pal Malik and the concerned authorities to look into the matter.

A PHE official said the villagers will be provided drinking water through tankers on priority.