PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The recent incident in Indore, where at least 15 people lost their lives and hundreds were seriously affected after consuming contaminated water, has raised significant concerns among residents about the quality of drinking water in Uttarakhand. In response, the founder of Social Development for Communities (SDC) Anoop Nautiyal has written to the chief general manager of Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan and director of Peyjal Nigam, emphasising the urgent need for immediate and transparent testing of drinking water supply across the State. Activists and scientists have also urged authorities to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure water quality in Uttarakhand.
Nautiyal said that considering the tragic incident in Indore, even minor negligence in drinking water supply systems can have fatal consequences for public health. Considering this, he wrote a letter to the authorities eliciting focus on the issue. He said that in the letter he pointed out that in a sensitive and mountainous State like Uttarakhand, where a large population relies entirely on piped drinking water, preventing such incidents must be treated as a top public priority. Nautiyal highlighted that risks related to sewage contamination, damaged pipelines and pollution of water sources make regular, standardised water quality testing even more crucial. He raised three key demands directed at the water authorities. The first demand is for immediate quality testing, which calls for the testing of tap water supplied across all urban and rural areas in the State. This should include comprehensive physical, chemical and biological tests. The second demand is the need for continuous technical monitoring of water sources, as well as main and subsidiary pipelines and distribution networks. This monitoring should come with clearly defined accountability for the officials and staff involved. Nautiyal further urged the launch of a State-wide campaign aimed at raising awareness about drinking water safety. This campaign should include the dissemination of test reports and precautionary measures to educate the public on water safety, he said.
These actions by the authorities would not only help prevent potential loss of life but also strengthen public trust in the State’s drinking water supply systems and institutions, Nautiyal added.
President of the Society of Pollution and Environmental Conservation Scientists (SPECS) Brij Mohan Sharma expressed similar concerns regarding water quality in the State. Stating that SPECS has conducted various water quality tests over the years, he said that the water quality in Uttarakhand is poor, as per the observations. The main factors contributing to this issue include a faulty sewage system, old pipelines and debris collecting in the pipes when pressure is halted, creating a vacuum. Further, many areas in the State have hard water, which authorities attempt to treat with chlorination, a method that is not a comprehensive solution. Other issues include the lack of treatment plants for small industries and rivers being converted into drainage channels.
Sharma emphasised that these problems can only be addressed when authorities recognise their responsibility not just for water supply, but also for ensuring the provision of good water quality. He stressed that officials, including ministers, are using RO water themselves, which indicates their lack of confidence in the quality of water in the State. In light of this, he urged the authorities to develop a robust plan for ensuring safe and quality water supply.
