Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, May 10: Even after the construction of nearly 50 tube wells in and around Jammu by the Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) in last 5-6 years, the winter capital city is still facing shortfall of nearly 20 lakh gallons (2 MGD) of water every day.
Over 70 % of the PHE staff which is temporary/ casual, has gone on strike for the last about two months and the general public has been left to suffer in entire Jammu province during these hot summer days. Worst is the condition in the Kandi belt of Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts, besides many parts of Rajouri, Kalakote, Kotranka, Mendhar (Poonch), Udhampur, Reasi and Doda. In Rural areas, over 75 % PHE staff is temporary/ daily wagers. And since most of them are not working for the last two months, the people are unable to get drinking water even after 3-4 days during these hot summer days. Many localities of Jammu city too, are reeling under the severe water shortage.
Chief Engineer, PHE Jammu, Rajeev Gandotra when contacted told the Excelsior that presently Jammu city is receiving nearly 45.5 MGD of water every day from all the sources available with the PHE department in and around Jammu. 47.5 MGD is the demand as per the population of the city now. So, there is still a shortage of 2 MGD ( 20 lakh gallons) of water every day.
Responding to a question, the Chief Engineer said that to augment the water as short term measures, ERA is entrusted with the task to constructing 19 more tube wells in Jammu city. Out of the total, seven are being constructed on the left side of the river Tawi while 12 others on right side of the Tawi river including Talab Tillo, Bakshi Nagar, Toph, Paloura etc. He admitted that about 50 odd tube wells were constructed by ERA to improve water supply position in Jammu city and meet the shortfall but some of the wells have turned defunct.
Gandotra said that half a dozen tube wells have been dug out while remaining are nearing completion. December 2016 has been given the deadline for the completion of these 19 tube wells to the ERA in Jammu city. It is hoped that with the commissioning of all these tube wells, the water supply will further improve in Jammu city,” Mr Gandotra maintained.
When asked how much water supply has been affected with the strike of the daily wagers of the department, the Chief Engineer said that there are nearly 70-75 % temporary/ daily rated workers in the PHE department. Mostly, the field work is being executed by them. Now, since they are on strike for the last over 50 days, the permanent staff has been deployed at various stations to meet the emergency and maintain essential supply. The existing permanent staff has been over burdened.
” In Jammu city and other major towns, we are trying our best to maintain the regular supply of water during these hot summer days but in rural areas and Kandi belt, the condition is not good. Where ever possible tanker service is also being provided and focus has been given in the Kandi belts of Jammu and Kathua, “Mr Gandotra added.
When asked about the fate of much publicized Rs 1008 cr mega Chenab water project for Greater Jammu meeting the demand of water for next 30 years, the Chief Engineer said the project has not been shelved. It is in the pipeline, despite the fact that Asian Development Bank (ADB) refused funding for the project about one and half years back.
He said the project was returned to PHE and new agency for the funding was discovered. Mr Gandotra said that now a Japanese agency, ‘Japan International Cooperation Agency’ (JICA) has agreed for funding this Rs 885 crore Ist phase of the project. The DPR has been prepared and revised and operational cost is being assessed. The technical team of JICA had raised certain observations and that too, have been fulfilled. The Government has again involved ERA for the completion of this project and the work is likely to be started within next three months.
With this project, sufficient water supply will be available for greater Jammu up to 2031, covering nearly 25 lakh population in Ist phase. During IInd phase for next 15 years, another DPR is also under process, he maintained.
Another senior officer of PHE said ERA constructed nearly 50 tube wells in Jammu city and nearly 16 MGD of water supply was targeted from them. He said for long inter-connectivity of many tube wells also remained the cause of concern and delay in water supply. Out of the total, 30 tube wells are on left bank of river Tawi while 20 on the right bank (North side) of the city.
He further pointed out that due to long power cuts, the water supply is also affected. He said over 211 tube wells were dependent on power supply. On an average 3-4 of them remain out of order due to mechanical faults and get affected due to power curtailment. Low voltage is yet another problem. It aggravates the problem during hot summer days. IRCON has been engaged in erecting electricity poles in various city localities. They impose power cuts to execute works. This has also affected water supply in many areas. He further disclosed that over 45 water tankers have also been deployed in Jammu city and its surroundings to cater to the need of the people during these summer days.
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