Defunct water filtration plant restored on directions of DLSA at Udhampur

Secretary District Legal Services Authority Udhampur Sandeep Kour on Thursday  inspected Salmey water filtration plant in Udhampur town and inspected  drinking water quality being supplied to  people after its restoration done on the direction of District Legal Services Authority (DLSA).On the direction of Chairman District Legal Services Authority (Session Judge Mohan Lal Manhas), the Secretary DLSA took stock of the functioning of water filtration plant here  and  checked  quality of water being supplied to local residents .She also took the samples of water and sent the same to laboratory for checking its quality.

The  Secretary DLSA  during his visit  checked the pumping and filtration and alum and bleaching mixing plant  and found  that  most of the things   properly  functioning which were  found defunct  during her  earlier visit a month  ago . She asked the Executive Engineer PHE to ensure that safe and clean water is supplied to the inhabitants of the town and discuss measures to be taken for   ensuring quality of drinking water.

She also stressed upon the officials to carry out regular cleanliness of water tanks and also inquired about the training being imparted to employees responsible for mixing alum in water plant. She issued directions to PHE functionaries to use cleaning agents like alum/ bleaching powder/chlorine in the plants after proper testing to supply clean water to the inhabitants.

Talking to media, the  Secretary DLSA  said that  in September this year   team of DLSA  conducted  a surprise  inspection  of PHE  water filtration plant  and found  most of the  equipment  defunct at  the installation. She said the  residents of Udhampur were  being supplied untreated water directly from Tawi river , causing a major health risk as  alum  and other filtration  machinery was not  in working condition  and the alum and  bleaching powder being mixed was not as per the standard norms . “We had taken samples of water from plant and after laboratory reports they were found unfit for drinking” she said. Secretary DLSA said taking serious note, the matter was taken with   administration and PHE department who assured that things will be   streamlined within month time. She added  today  to check  the  development  we  visited the spot along with XEN PHE and found most of things  had been  brought on  track  . “We had again taken samples of water and sent to laboratory for checking” she added.Executive Engineer PHE said that after direction of Secretary DLSA the department made efforts to streamline things and supply safe drinking water to people but due to shortage of staff and paucity of funds more is to be done in future. He added that soon  two more filtration plants  - Sountha and Rehmbal are being   made functional  as tendering is on  and within one month’s time  the twin  installations would be made functional  after which people  will get more  clean drinking water .He assured DLSA secretary  that no such complaints will come in future and our efforts will continue in this direction.