G S Asgotra
Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 31: The metering of water connections in Jammu city seems a distant dream. The proposal was made to prevent misuse of potable water and overcome the water shortage in the city of temples. The move aimed to generate income besides preventing misuse of drinking water was initiated three years ago but ill date, the target has not been achieved.
Source in the department informed Early Times that three years ago , the department had decided to install meters in approximately 13,000 commercial establishments in Jammu Province.
"In first phase, the department planned to install 2337 water meters in commercial establishment in Jammu but after lapse of the three financial years including completion of one phase the department installed only 1608 water meters ( 830 in Division-1 and 878 in Division-11)", he informed.
He further said that there are a total of 1, 21814 water connections in Jammu city, including 78, 970 in City PHE division-I and 42,844 in City PHE division-II. "Owing to poor planning of the department, potable water is reaching at peak end", he said, adding if department does not stop the misuse of potable water the crises would increase in many folds.
"In forthcoming summer season would be witnessed of shortage of potable water in Jammu city", he added.
When this correspondent contacted to Executive Engineer of Division-I, J K Sharma said that against 1387 commercial establishment only 830 meters and against 124 Government and semi government installation only 57 meters have installed phase so far. "But installation of meters in domestic household is yet to be completed", he added.
Meanwhile, Executive Engineer of Division-II, Ashok Kumar Sharma told that he has completed the installation of water meter in commercial establishment but government and semi government and domestic household is untouched.
When contacted Chief Engineer, Sushil Aima informed that installation of water meters in commercial establishment has almost completed but due to the objection of habitants of Jammu the installation of water meter in domestic household would not complete. |
