A first, civic body to rope in women for door-to-door water testing in Chandigarh

Setting a new example of women empowerment, the Municipal Corporation (MC) has decided to rope in women to collect water samples for door-to-door testing facility in the city.

Amit Kumar, MC Commissioner, said this unique project was being launched as part of the Amrut Mitra Initiative under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme.

Women have always played a great role in water conservation, he added.

The Municipal Corporation has issued a request for empanelment (RFE) for a women City-Level Federation (CLF)/Area-Level Federation (ALF) to operate a mobile testing laboratory. They will collect potable water samples from houses and government as well as private institutions in the city. Under the project, samples will be collected daily from 6 am to 2 pm.

It will be operated from the main laboratory of the waterworks, Sector 39. All sectors, Mani Majra Town and 22 villages will be covered under the project. The samples will be collected from various locations, including residences, government/private institutions, villages, colonies and schools.

It will be the responsibility of the empanelled agency to ensure proper labelling and documentation of the samples. The city-level federation will collect and conduct tests in accordance with the established protocols and guidelines. It will also operate and manage the mobile-testing laboratory.

The federation will collect the water samples and then deliver these to the main laboratory of the waterworks, Sector 39, for analysis of chemical and bacteriological parameters. After analysis, the federation will distribute the report to the authorities/citizens concerned within four working days. It will also submit comprehensive reports promptly to MC officials.

The corporation will provide ID cards and uniform to the staff operating the mobile testing laboratory. The vehicle, with all laboratory equipment, will be provided by the MC.

Meanwhile, Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla said the MC was taking such steps to ensure regular supply of safe potable water to the residents.