PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan (UJS) is making all efforts to ensure the supply of clean drinking water to the people of the State during the monsoon. The UJS secretary (Administration) Satendra Kumar Gupta said this informing about the action taken on the recent report in which local residents expressed their concerns regarding the unpleasant odour of the water from the tap located on the main road in the Green Valley colony of the Garhi Cantt area in Dehradun. A recent report highlighted the local residents’ apprehension about the water’s odour, as it has also been reported that cockroaches, mosquitoes and other dead insects are appearing in the tap water. Residents and passersby occasionally use this water for drinking, but the persistently foul smell has raised significant health concerns among the local population.
Regarding this, Gupta stated that upon receiving information about the residents’ concerns related to the unpleasant odour and dirty water, they promptly took action. He said that officials concerned have been instructed to conduct water sampling and investigate the underlying causes of the odour and contamination. The identification and examination of these issues are currently in progress and it is anticipated that the root causes will be determined soon, leading to appropriate further measures. Additionally, he said that it is possible that the contamination may be linked to some damage or leakage in the area contributing to the unclean water.
He emphasised that during the monsoon season, rivers and other related sources serve as the primary water supply. However, the river water can sometimes become muddy during this period. In light of this issue, officials have been instructed to ensure the filtration of water is acknowledged and to conduct backwashing of the filters regularly, with the aim of providing clean water to residents throughout the state. Additionally, they have been directed to monitor the levels of sodium hypochlorite for water disinfection. Gupta urged consumers to check for any leaks at their connections that could result in contaminated water. Further, he advised that during the monsoon season, individuals should only consume boiled water
