Faizan Wani
Srinagar : At a time when the Valley is ‘grappling’ with deadly Corona-Virus, the people are set to get exposed to ‘water borne diseases’ as Jal Shakti department here is running short of necessary chemicals and allegedly supplies ‘contaminated’ water to masses.
Sources within the Jal Shakti department told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that portable water being supplied to the people is highly polluted as necessary stock of chemicals like ferric alum and chlorine have run out of stock, which may take a few more days to pile up.
They said the stock of necessary chemicals being used to make drinking water hygienic exhausted a long ago and the department is yet to order fresh supply, thereby putting lives of millions at grave risk.
“Since the department runs short of necessary chemicals like ferric alum and chlorine, people for the past fifteen days or so consume contaminated water in Kashmir with Jal Shakti higher-ups failing so far to take any decision with regards to fresh supply,” sources told KNO.
They said the department is supplying water without necessary treatment and chlorination and this ‘unscientific’ approach of the department has put the health of the people of Kashmir at risk. They further said the water being supplied to people is dirty as well as filthy while chlorine tablets are not added to it at the different filtration plants.
“Around 50 tons of chemicals are needed for chlorination and treatment of water in the Kashmir valley on an average in a day. Srinagar district alone needs 20-25 tons of chemicals for treatment as well as chlorination of the water supplied to the residents,” they added.
Chief Engineer, Jal Shakti department, Iftikhar Wani told KNO there is adequate stock of necessary chemicals like ferric alum and chlorine and more is expected to arrive in a day or two.
“There is absolutely no dearth of chemicals, we supply water with utmost responsibility as the same involves the health of the people which I think is more important for us than anything else. We are getting extra stock of chemicals in the coming few days,” Wani said—(KNO)
