Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 17: How much better quality of water is being consumed by the people of Jammu has been discovered from the survey of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), under the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, which declared that all the water samples lifted from various areas of winter capital city have failed to qualify BIS standards.
Official sources said that BIS in first phase of its country wide survey, lifted samples from 20 State capitals recently. From different areas of Jammu, a total 10 samples were lifted by the survey team. It was found that all the water samples failed to meet the BIS standards in six parameters, indicating that the water being supplied through pipes by the Government agency to the public here is not safe.
The survey report has also shown that the supply position is also not good in Chandigarh, Dehradun and Jaipur as well. In Delhi, all the 11 samples in 19 parameters failed to qualify BIS standards.
In Jammu city, Tawi river is the main source of water supply. Besides this, the supply in the winter capital and its adjoining areas is ensured through nearly 275 tube wells.
Chief Engineer PHE Jammu, Sanjeev Chadha when contacted claimed that his department conducts tests of water being supplied from Sitlee and Boria water stations at the bank of river Tawi to Jammu city. He said sufficient staff at these two Labs has been placed. Mostly, the quality of water being supplied in Jammu is up to the standards as per Lab reports, he claimed.
When asked what measures are taken to improve water quality in Jammu, Chief Engineer said the water is filtered and then chlorinated before being supplied to the general public. He, however, admitted that some times with the leakage in old pipes, the contaminated water enters the pipes. The lack of supervision by seniors in the Labs may also some times, result into bad results. He stressed the need to monitor water quality by third- party and said a proposal in this regard has been forwarded to IIT Jammu.
JN Sharma, senior Environment Engineer at Pollution Control Board, Jammu said that PCB Scientists frequently lift water samples from Tawi, Chenab and other water bodies and localities in Jammu and other cities. Mostly, as per their reports, the water samples fail to qualify the prescribed standards.
“The PCB shares these reports with the senior PHE Department officials and they are advised every time to improve the water quality. It is their responsibility to ensure better and hygienic water supply to the general public,” Sharma added.
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