Concerned with erratic water supply, New Silchar residents write to Urban Development Minister, meet Silchar MP
Silchar, June 25: Concerned with erratic and largely insufficient water supply across urban areas, people under the banner of Urban Care, a non-political group has sent a memorandum to the State Minister for Urban Development Ashok Singhal drawing his attention on the condition of the Assam Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Barak Valley Division.
In the memorandum, members of the group underscored the plight of the people in the New Silchar area consuming water supplied from the Sewerage Board. "We have conveyed our concerns to the honourable minister via an email and drawn his attention to the issue. The modernisation of the plant infrastructure is necessary as the plant is in deplorable condition.
Availability of senior officer in-charge of Silchar in Silchar instead of visiting Silchar occasionally," said Prof RajatGupta, who led the group in meeting Silchar MP Dr Rajdeep Roy to appraise him on their concerns as well. A copy of the memorandum was sent to Silchar MLA Dipayan Chakraborty also.
Further, Prof Gupta said that as a part of short term measure, a Grievance Redressal Cell should be permanently established with a Toll Free Telephone number to lodge public complaints. The Clariflocculator Bridge should run on a regular interval for disposal of sludge and to have quality water. A Water Test/Analysis facility should be set up to ascertain the quality that will be required for chemical dosing etc. so as to maintain potable water free from turbidity and other germs causing water borne diseases.
Chlorine dosing should be maintained in such a way that the residual chlorine at last point shall be 0.2 mg/litre as per BIS. 24 Hours Uninterrupted power supply for uninterrupted water supply," he added. "We have also placed some long term measures which if taken would help solve the issue and people of New Silchar area could avail potable drinking water from the plan there.
Another Raw Water Pumping Main (RWPM) may be provided as an alternative of the already existing RWPM, the reason being that during sudden breakdown,the second alternative RWPM can be used for uninterrupted supply of drinking water. Also, there is an urgent requirement of Elevated Service Reservoirs for supplying drinking water under pressure. That effective periodic vigilance of the pipeline (RWPL) and Distribution network be maintained at all times to arrest leakage in the pipeline. Preventive maintenance needs to be augmented to the desired level and a monitoring mechanism be developed," Prof Gupta added.
Members of urban care informed that they have received positive assurance from Dr Rajdeep Roy in addressing the issue at the earliest.
