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| As necessary chemicals run out of stock people of Kashmir supplied unfiltered, dirty water | | PHE department plays 'truant' with masses | | Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, July 25: Despite the claims by people at helm in Public Health Engineering (PHE) department that clean and filtered water is being provided to the people of Kashmir the stock of chemicals meant for filtration has been exhausted.
Early Times has learnt from sources that necessary chemicals like ferric alum and chlorine has run out of stock at all the filtration plants in the Kashmir valley. As a result of this un-filtered and dirty drinking water is being provided to the residents of the valley. "The higher ups in the department have developed a habit of lying to the superiors in the government. Despite the fact that there is no stock of necessary chemicals the people at helm continue to claim that all is well and there is nothing to worry about. Worse part is that concerned people are not serious in receiving the fresh supplies," said sources.
Sources said that just two truckloads of ferric alum and chlorine were available at the central stores in Srinagar on July 24 (Tuesday) and since then this stock too has been exhausted. As on date no stock of necessary chemicals is available in Kashmir for carrying out filtration of water. On an average five truck loads are needed for filtration in Kashmir, said sources.
"As on date there is zero supply of ferric alum and chlorine in Kashmir, but still then the concerned officers claim that there is adequate stock available. It is high time that Governor N N Vohra intervenes in the matter, otherwise the people of Kashmir would be supplied unfiltered water for months together," said sources.
Sources said it is an irony that despite having prior information about supplies of ferric alum and chlorine on monthly basis no exercise is taken up so that the chemicals are received by department every 2-3 months. They said that higher ups at the department are taking the things lightly and that too at the cost of health of people.
"It is perplexing that the department has not entered into a contract with regard to supply of ferric alum and chlorine. This is criminal and action under rules should be taken against the concerned officers. Once action is taken then it can be expected that things would fall in place and there would be no problem in this regard," said sources. Sources said that consumption of ferric alum and chlorine gets increased as and when there is flood like situation or there is a cloud burst. They said that since many areas in Kashmir have been inundated due to flashflood following cloud burst it becomes more than important that filtration is up to the mark in the valley.
"People in one of the flood hit areas virtually wept when they came to know that they are being provided dirty and unfiltered water. Since Jammu & Kashmir is a welfare state measures need to be taken to bring relief to the people, but reverse is happening. Chemicals need to be acquired at the earliest so that there is no further trouble," said sources. |
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