Jammu/Kishtwar, April 6:
In a significant enforcement drive, authorities in Kishtwar have launched a major crackdown against illegal water connections and long-pending water tax defaulters across the town and adjoining areas.
The disconnection drive, carried out in localities including Wasser Kund, Shakti Nagar, and Chatroo, has so far resulted in the disconnection of nearly 40 unauthorized water connections over the past two days.
Officials revealed that several illegal pipelines—measuring 3-inch, 2-inch, and 1-inch in diameter—were found clandestinely hooked to various water supply schemes. In the backside areas of Wasser Kund, multiple unauthorized connections, particularly of 32 mm and 20 mm diameter, were identified and removed during the operation.
The action was taken by a dedicated disconnection team constituted under the supervision of the Assistant Executive Engineer, following the identification of defaulters and illegal users.
Notably, officials disclosed that approximately ₹5 crore in water charges are pending across Kishtwar district. The dues include outstanding payments from government departments and various establishments, in addition to private consumers, reflecting the scale of revenue losses faced by the department.
Authorities stated that the ongoing drive is technically challenging due to the underground nature of the water supply system, which makes tracing and disconnecting illegal pipelines a complex task. Despite these hurdles, the operation will continue in the coming days to ensure full compliance.
Public Advisory:
Residents of Kishtwar Town and surrounding mandal areas have been urged to clear their pending water dues without delay. Officials warned that failure to comply will result in immediate disconnection of water supply without further notice.
Additionally, habitual defaulters may be publicly listed for further administrative action.
