| Amid soaring mercury, Jammu hit by worst water crisis | | | Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Jammu, June 4: As the mercury continues to soar above 40 degree Celsius in the region, Jammu has been hit by the worst water crisis with many areas of the city not getting water supply for days together, while others are getting supply for only a few minutes.
Sources told ET that the deepening power crisis is also adversely affecting water supply in Jammu. "The PHE Department cannot lift the required quantity of water due to unscheduled power cuts. There are many areas of the city where the water is supplied after 3 to 4 days, while there are areas in the city where the water is supplied for only a few minutes, which is not sufficient to meet the requirements," said sources in the PHE department.
Sources said that where people are suffering because of the prevailing situation, Ministers and public representatives prefer to stay in Kashmir valley. "In the peak summer owing to power tripping problem, various areas of Jammu are reeling under water scarcity. These areas include Keran, Chinore, Roop Nagar, Muthi, Durga Nagar, parts of Old City, Bhatindhi, Sunjwan, Channi, Chowadi, Sainik Colony and Sidhra etc," sources maintained.
Sources maintained that unexpected rise in the mercury and frequent power cuts have led to acute water shortage, which has disturbed the routine life of people in the city. Sources said that furthermore, the ill-maintained water distribution network continues to be a nightmare for people in the region, who are demanding provisions for pure and uninterrupted water supply.
Sources said that PHE department has only 82 tankers in entire Jammu province for supply of water to the areas reeling under scarcity. While 13 such tankers are catering to the area in Gandhi Nagar Assembly constituency, 12 are being used for water supply in Jammu West and Jammu East, sources added.
One of the officials of the PHE department admitted water scarcity in various parts of Jammu but claimed that tripping of power was the main reason behind the inadequate supply even as drying up of Tawi River and decreasing ground water level because of intense heat are the other factors contributing to the crisis.
"We have pressed into service some private tankers also for supply of water to the affected areas," said the official.
Sources said that three filtration plants and 262 tube wells servicing the city supply 25 percent less than its daily needs.
Official sources say the government has moved a proposal to the state's Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) for building 49 new tube wells and overhead tanks (OHTs) for storage and supply of more water to residents of Jammu. |
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