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| Amidst claims of fair play, people allege negligence from Public Health Engineering department | | Chief Engineer says all is well | | Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, May 7: Despite the 'claims' by officials of Public Health Engineering (PHE) department that there is adequate stock of chemicals at the filtration and treatment plants complaints are pouring that unfiltered water is being supplied to the people of Kashmir.
Reports reaching here said that people living in the summer capital of the state along with the other districts of Kashmir have raised revolt against the PHE department for supplying filthy water. Protest demonstrations were carried out by people in some of the areas while alleging that they are being forced to drink unfiltered water.
"Over the past few weeks we have been supplied filthy water with dirt coming out of the water taps. Despite boiling the water the dirt gets deposited at the bottom. This aptly points towards the quality of water supplied. It seems that no chlorination is done and people are forced to drink unfiltered water," said Mohammad Ishaq, a resident of Brien.
Complaints regarding supply of unfiltered water have also come in from the outskirts of Srinagar city and other districts. People fear that if the things don't get better then chances are that water borne diseases might break out.
"Since the Kashmir valley witnessed extended rainy season this year the dirt and other impurities are flowing in bulk in the water bodies. Given this situation it was obligatory on part of the department to act in a proper manner and apply serious thought to the purification of the water," said Mohammad Muzaffar of Budgam.
Sources in the PHE department said that the department is facing serious shortage of chlorine and ferric alum over the past few weeks. They said that health of people across Kashmir valley has been jeopardized since the unfiltered water is being supplied to them.
"Both chlorine and ferric alum have run out of stock at the filtration and treatment plants in Kashmir. This negligence has put the health of more than 60 lakh people of the Valley at stake. Despite repeated reminders the higher ups are not taking the issue seriously even though the matter is of prime importance," said sources.
However, Chief Engineer, Public Health Engineering-Kashmir, Ahmad Muzaffar Lanker refuted the accusations of non-availability of the chemicals. Lankar said that there is adequate stock of both chlorine and ferric alum adding that people should not pay heed to the rumours in this regard.
"It is not true that we have run out of stock of the chemicals needed for the purification of the water. In fact we supplied more than double the quantity of chlorine and ferric alum since the rainy season got extended during this year. There are people among department who are spreading false information and people should not take them seriously," said the Chief Engineer.
Lankar said that the existing stock of chemicals would be adequate for more days to come adding that the stock gets added on with constant supply. He said that people should contact the department in case they have any complaint. |
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