Details

Written by: Current News Service

Category: ENVIRONMENT

Published: 28 March 2019

SRINAGAR: The water quality of Doodh Ganga filtration plant that supplies drinking water to parts of Budgam and Srinagar is filthy, muddy and hazardous. Chief Engineer PHE took the concerned officials to task while a team from Health Department was dispatched to check the quality of the water.   A population of around 7 to 8 lakh people is supplied drinking water from Doodh Ganga water supply scheme.

Water is lifted at Kralpora Doodh Ganga Water Palnt and supplied to residential areas like Chanapora, Gulshan Nagar, Natipora, Jawahar Nagar, Rajbagh, Wanbal, Rangreth, Rawalpora, PirBagh, Hyderpora, Burzulla, ParrayPora up to Tengpora bridge and several other areas in Budgam district.

Locals from scores of areas alleged that they receive muddy and filthy water from past couple of days. They told news agency CNS that a couple of days officials were directed to employee labourers to clean the plant, however, they withdrew money without availing the service of desired number of labourers.

AEE Muhammad Ashraf claimed they were forced by people to release the water from the plant. “The desliting process was underway when we were pressurized by people to supply water to them,” he said. When asked how can official be so irresponsible and give heed to the request of the people when water was still filthy and muddy, the AEE beat about the bush and didn’t answer the question.

Pertinently, the said AEE has been transferred from the Plant to Bijbehara but to the reasons known to the Chief Engineer PHE, he is still taking care of the Dood Ganga Water Plant. The locals alleged that the faecal matter and the solid and the liquid waste right from Branwar to Kralpora via Surasyar, Dadompora, Zoohama, Sogam, Chadoora, Wathoora enter into the waters of Doodh Ganga.

This Reporter found the Filtration Plant at Kralpora in a shabby condition.  Carcasses of animals like cattle, dogs are seen floating in the nallah. Inside the Plant dogs and cows roam free and the dung has accumulated on the corridors of the Plant.

 AEE confirmed that Chief Engineer PHE inspected the spot and a team from Health Department took samples of the water.  “This water plant needs to be taken care of seriously as it supplies water to a vast population. The officials can’t play with the lives of the people and they ought to be transferred from there. It needs a dedicated and honest officer to bring the things on track,” said a couple of locals.

Pertinently, the first unit of Doodh Ganga water treatment plant was commissioned at Kralpora Chadoora in 1972 and three more units were added to this plant in the subsequent years. Chief Engineer PHE Abdul Wahid said the Plant needs renovation and within coming months they are going to start work on it.