No contamination in flood-hit areas

Aparna Banerji

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Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 27

The groundwater tests in four of the flood-hit villages show no major contamination. But not taking any chances in 20 other villages, the Water Supply and Sanitation Department has pressed 15 potable water tankers into service.

Mobile testing teams of the department had collected samples from Yusufpur Darewal, Kra Ram Singh, Sabhuwal and Manak villages. In other villages, officials fear seepage of polluted Chitti Bein/Sutlej into groundwater through pipes/borewells has caused contamination.

The DWSS is also distributing pamphlets, urging villagers not to consume water of regular supply.

Notably, the initial water samples are only from nine tube wells set up by the DWSS at 20 Lohian villages.

NP Singh, XEN, Water Supply and Sanitation Department, Jalandhar, said, “The initial samples are only from our department tube wells. These have been taken both directly from tube wells and indirect water supply to homes. All these samples are of 500-600 feet deep water. It is estimated that contamination has affected only the upper strata, especially up to 150-200 feet deep. With contamination ruled out, we have restored their water supply, but not to other villages until we receive reports.”

Officials of the PPCB too took water samples from 25 villages. Reports are awaited, officials said.