Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, July 31: The access to safe drinking is still a dream for many across the state, making people vulnerable to waterborne diseases in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to official figures, around 65 per cent population in Jammu and Kashmir has access to tap water. Out of this only 34.7 per cent get water from treated sources, while 29.2 percent get water from untreated sources.
A doctor at Srinagar's SMHS Hospital said, "Most of water borne disease are common in the state. These could be controlled only when we get water from treated sources."
Official data issued by the central ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation shows that last year the state registered 5,15,013 cases of Acute Diarrheal disease, 57,537 cases of Enteric fever, and 5,110 cases of Viral Hepatitis. In 2015, the numbers were 472843 cases, 52539 cases and 4028 cases respectively.
Reports by health experts reveal that this explosion in diseases occurs due to supplying of "contamination and unfiltered" water to the people.
A PHE official wishing anonymity said, "The rickety apparatus for water testing, and poor state of existing water supply schemes was resulting in poor quality of drinking water in Kashmir."
"In many areas of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the rural ones, water was supplied through pumping stations that neither had a filtration plant, nor a reservoir," he added.
Similarly, the Pad Shahi Bagh treatment plant was set up in 2006 and commissioned in 2012 supplies water supply round the clock to a large area that includes the posh areas of Rajbagh, Mehjoor Nagar, Jawhar Nagar and its adjoining areas. As per officials, they supply 1.125 mgal/d of water to Rajbagh, Mehjoor Nagar, Jawhar Nagar and its adjoining areas. Officials claim it is the second best treatment facility in the state. However, the bridge over the river that leads to the facility is covered with stinking garbage and litter. The stink is the first thing that strikes the senses. The garbage floats on the trickle that flows into the plant.
However, a senior official of Public Health Engineering (PHE) department laid the responsibility at the door of other departments.
He said, "Pollution free water bodies are to be ensured by the concerned departments, for example Municipalities, Notified areas committee, and District Development Commissioners."
"It is their responsibility to check pollution of water bodies by industrialisation or habitations. It is first and foremost their duty," he added.
The official said, "We have upgraded the filter technology. Earlier we had slow sand filters, but we have replaced them now with rapid sand filters. Alum has been replaced by the more effective chemicals." |
