Tangmarg, September 18, 2025 : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday inaugurated and dedicated to the public five major water supply schemes of the Jal Shakti Department in Tangmarg, asserting that these projects mark the beginning of a broad transformation in the Gulmarg–Tangmarg constituency.
Constructed at a cost of ₹35.67 crore, the schemes will provide clean drinking water through modern Rapid Sand Filtration Plants to 40 habitations, covering 5,473 households and benefitting over 10,000 families with a total population of 32,838.
The projects inaugurated include 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 public gathering, the Chief Minister said access to safe drinking water is not a favour but a government’s responsibility.
“These schemes will ensure that families no longer depend on unfiltered river or well water, but receive clean, filtered water at their doorstep. But with this facility comes responsibility—to use water judiciously and conserve it for the future,” Omar Abdullah said.
He highlighted the challenges of climate change, noting that Kashmir has faced both drought-like conditions and devastating floods in recent years. Stressing on the need for rainwater harvesting and sustainable water management, he urged communities to safeguard resources for future generations.
Recalling the massive damage caused by recent floods, which destroyed 330 bridges, 1,500 km of roads, homes, and agricultural land, Omar Abdullah praised the engineers and staff of the Jal Shakti Department for completing the projects despite immense challenges.
The Chief Minister further assured that development efforts would extend beyond water supply projects to include roads, healthcare, education, and employment opportunities.
“This investment of ₹35 crore is just the beginning. In the next four years, we will change the map of the Gulmarg–Tangmarg constituency. No household will be left behind,” he pledged.
Expressing a personal connect with the area, 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 region’s tourism potential after setbacks caused by floods and restrictions.
The event was also attended by Jal Shakti Minister Javed Ahmed Rana, Advisor to CM Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Gulmarg Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah, senior officials of the Jal Shakti Department, and a large gathering of locals.
