Srinagar, Aug. 21 -- What they found there has unsettled both politicians and citizens: a system struggling to provide clean water, weighed down by shortages, poor planning, and a river increasingly choked with waste.

The J&K Legislative House Committee on Environment, headed by veteran legislator M.Y. Tarigami, had come with questions.

Alongside him were lawmakers Dr. Sajjad Shafi from Uri, Mushtaq Guroo from Chanapora, Irshad Rasool Kar from Sopore, Peerzada Feroz from Devsar, and local MLA Ali Mohammad Dar of Chadoora.

Waiting for them were engineers from the Jal Shakti Department, officials of the Pollution Control Committee, and a group of anxious residents who said they have been forced to drink murky, untreated water for weeks....