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| Defunct bore wells claim GWD's Maintenance in Baramulla | | 90% wells unable to fetch water | | Javid A Malla
Baramulla, Oct 4: Generally the bore wells constructed by the Ground Water Division GWD of Public Health Engineering department with an aim to overcome water scarcity in various rural areas of north Kashmir's Baramulla district have been rendered defunct due to lack of maintenance and improper installation causing immense inconvenience to the people. These wells were constructed with an aim to provide alternate sources of water to villages that face acute water shortages. Locals said the bore wells were constructed through the Ground Water Division. However most of these wells have been rendered defunct due to improper installation and lack of maintenance by the department. They said the bore wells were constructed during last two years in Kanispora, Delina, Watergam, Ladoora, various villages in Sopore, Sangrama and Wagoora and various other areas in Baramulla District."In lack of maintenance joined with lack of coordination between district administration and concerned department most of the wells have been rendered defunct," the locals said. They said according to norms hand pumps should be installed only after
soil is dug 60-feet and water is declared fit for human consumption after proper tests. "But in blatant violation of norms concerned officials have laid the pipes just 20 feet deep level and non- availability of water at this level led to non-functioning of the wells. Ironically, the bore wells were installed without any pre site survey," they said. "In our tehsil almost 90 percent bore wells are defunct due to negligence in ensuring proper installation and maintenance. The wells fail to produce water incurring heavy financial loss" said a local Fayaz Ahmad from Rafiabad. "Every department is supposed to stop disbursement of payments to contractors if work is found unsatisfactory but here department has even failed to make test of Water for human consumption, which has resulted in outbreak of disease at several places in past" Ahmad adds. Sources said the contractors were paid as per the work estimates. "The contractors managed to get payment as per the estimate in connivance with engineers of the concerned department. The higher ups of the department ignored to check function of bore wells on sites," they said. They said the matter was taken up with the senior officials of the district administration. "However, no measures have been has been taken to restore the bore wells or initiate action against the accused contractors. We appeal Divisional Commissioner Kashmir to order an inquiry into the matter," they said. Executive Engineer Ground Water Division could not be contacted. However a top official of the department wishing not to be named said, that construction of bore wells is being done by Drilling machinery and there is no scope of any violation. These machines automatically work according to the chest zone. The defunct bore wells if any will be repaired soon as the officials from concerned territorial division have been trained for it," he said. "In the past Government has ordered to handover maintenance to PHE. If any where any bore well is defunct we are available here. People should contact us if they have any complaints regarding the functioning of bore wells" he added. |
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