Illegal water plants flood Muktsar

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, February 18

A sudden rise in the number of private water treatment plants in Muktsar for commercial purposes has caught the authorities unawares.

Operating without licence, the plants are drawing underground water allegedly from unauthorised borewells.

Officials of departments concerned admitted that the suppliers did not seek any legal permission. Dr Sukhpal Singh, civil surgeon, said: “Water purifying units need no permission from the health department as they do not fall under its purview.”

Bipan Kumar, executive officer, Muktsar Municipal Council, said: “We don’t have a dedicated wing to test the quality of drinking water. So, the council doesn’t look after water treatment plants.”

Jagmohan Singh, SDO, Water Supply and Sanitation Department, said: “Water plants set up in association with the state government are controlled by this department but we have never lifted samples from any private RO plant.”

Rakesh Mohan Makkar, SDO, Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Malout, said: “The sudden rise in the number of illegal water plants was once discussed at a meeting but no action was taken.”

Spread across all three sub-divisional towns, these plants supply water on consumer’s doorstep at Re 1 per litre.

Sources said the TDS (total dissolved solids) level of underground water was higher in this area and with the passage of time these plants would also become non-functional. “The samples should be picked after a fixed interval of time from all such units to avoid any risk to consumers’ health,” they said.