Water woes in Srinagar distressing: Altaf Bukhari

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 20: Former minister and MLA Amirakadal, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari today said that many parts of the summer capital Srinagar especially in Amirakadal are reeling under an acute drinking water shortage and demanded that the 10 MGD Tangnar Water Treatment Plant be commissioned at an earliest.
“Many parts of the city especially in Amirakadal constituency are reeling under a severe shortage of drinking water. The Government needs to take effective steps to ensure that this serious issue is addressed at an earliest,” Bukhari said.
The PDP Legislator further said that even after commissioning of 10 MGD Water Treatment Plant of Sukhnag in June 2016, the PHE Department has yet to receive the much needed additional technical and experienced staff for operation and maintenance of this scheme. He said funds to the tune of Rs 8.41 crore which were required to be arranged on account of execution of works for extending distribution system in various areas of Amirakadal constituency besides the other parts of Srinagar which can avail benefits under schemes like Sukhnag and Tangnar have not been arranged so far thus adding into the miseries of the people.
“I appeal the Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti to personally intervene and order commissioning of Tangnar Water Treatment Plant at an earliest. Her intervention into the matter will surely augment and improve the water supply service level with the availability of water from schemes like Sukhnag and Tangnar,” Bukhari maintained.
He said presently there is only one division i,e Water Works Division Srinagar, for a population of about 16 lakh while as PDD and R&B Departments have several divisions in the same area that cater to the same population. There is an urgent requirement to have two divisions for operation and maintenance of water supply system for such a large population,” Bukhari observed.
The MLA also invited Govt’s attention to the fact that due to slash of 10% in the allocation (Central Assistance) of the project cost of Water Supply Schemes of Sukhnag and Tangnar amounting to Rs 10 crores and Rs 13.35 crores respectively, funds must be arranged from the State sector.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here