If water saves precious life, it can also snuff out one

Owing to inferior quality of water, nothing but a gush of diseases reaches homes, complain residents

MC has failed to fulfil aspirations

As water is one of the most essential substances on earth to maintain human health and sustenance, it is imperative that the water which people drink and use for other purposes should be clean and free from germs, chemicals and other pollutants. History bears witness that a large number of people from different communities around the world have fallen prey to contaminated water. The overwhelmingly poor Water Quality Index (WQI) in Punjab has raised serious concerns among residents. Ruefully, this elixir of life delivered by the municipal authorities in towns and cities across the state is neither sufficient nor potable, courtesy continuous population pressure, growth of unplanned and unapproved colonies, faulty water supply and sewerage layouts, use of sub-standard material, rampant corruption, apathetic official attitude, etc. People are becoming increasingly aware and make sure that drinking water is safe. But despite regular complaints and protests against insufficient and contaminated water supply, the MCs have failed to fulfil their aspirations. They do little or nothing concrete to routinely check water supplies for germs, parasites and toxic elements; to stop choking of sewerage pipes during rainy season and mixing of dirty and drinking water; to provide for proper water treatment such as chlorination and other methods of disinfection; to repair the old, rusted, broken and leaking pipes in time; and contain the gross wastage of water to tide over its shortage. Unlike the well-off, the poor people are unable to either install ROs in their houses or buy water bottles from the market. Isn’t it the duty of civic bodies to provide low-cost, reliable access to safe drinking water and reduce the onslaught of several preventable water-borne diseases and maintain public health? It is a considered opinion that these authorities are too slow to wake up and solve the multiple problems confronting the residents.

DS Kang

Civic bodies must come up with new mechanism

The issue of supply of contaminated water is a very serious issue as it is a big threat for expanding water-borne diseases among the residents. As the officials of the Municipal Corporation leave no stone unturned to take adequate action against the complaint in regard to the contaminated water but they are helpless sometimes due to the non availability of galvanised pipes, etc. The reason is the underground water pipelines in some areas of the city are more than 50 to 60 years old, due to rust the pipes are punctured and leakage of joints follows. It needs replacement or laying of a new parallel line for safe drinking water. Secondly, the mixing of sewerage water with the drinking water pipeline is serious because when the tubewell is shut down, due to the reverse pressure the sewerage water enters the pipe line from leaking points. When water supply is resumed the dirty water in pipeline gushes through the taps of the residents. Similarly, the MC should be very strict during release of new connection while joining the water supply to a house. The pipeline has to be of superior quality and joints sealed to prevent leakage. Jalandhar is now in the category of Smart City, the MC should make a new mechanism wherein the water line is more than 50 to 60 years old another one in the opposite direction of the sewerage line be laid so that the problem of mixing of murky with the drinking water is zero per cent. Positive steps should be taken by the MC and this sensitive issue will certainly yield positive results in future.

Rajat Kumar Mohindru

Improvement in sanitation required

Sanitation is necessary to stay healthy and disease free. Improve sanitation facilities by providing toilets and latrines that flush into a sewer or safe enclosure. Promote good hygiene habits through education. Proper hand-washing with soap and water can reduce diarrhoea cases by up to 35 per cent. Unsafe drinking water, high density living, open defection are the some causes of poor sanitation. When planning for a long-term waste management solution, sanitation solutions are required to minimise the spread of diseases which also include sanitation facilities, hand-washing facilities with soap and water, operation and maintenance regimes and community education. It is necessary to invest in the sanitation issues for the present as well as future as sanitation can save the lives. It is important for all, helping to maintain health and increase life-spans. However, it is especially important for children.

Akshar Kumar Singla

Government needs to pull up MCs

It’s very topical and appropriate that The Tribune has raised the issue of water on the World Water Day. Water is essential to life. The pollution of air and water endangers the life of the people. Many people died of contaminated water as happened because of cholera outbreak which occurred in Phagwara and Nawanshahar a few years back. Even Napoleon died of water poisoning because the island where he was incarcerated, after his defeat in the Waterloo, had arsenic below the water resources. So, the water he was given to drink was laced with arsenic. In our cities also the MCs hardly clean the water tanks regularly. The water that comes from the taps in our homes has many impurities in it. Sometime back I wrote to the MC Kapurthala about contaminated water supply but there was no response, such is the apathetic attitude of the MCs all over Punjab no wonder that many people suffer from diarrhea and dysentery and have to spend a lot of money on treatments. In the Americas and Europe the water supplied is so pure and clean one can drink it from any tap on the airport and shopping malls. While here, people have to install purifiers of different companies to get safe drinking water and also for cooking food. The government needs to pull up and warn the MCs to supply safe and pure drinking water to the people.

Dr JS Wadhwa

Water scarcity has hit alarming stage

Among other basic needs, air and water are two vital essentials for survival. Our scriptures highlight the significance of these natural resources nicely as ‘pawan guru, pani pita’. Although the nature has gifted these resources abundantly for the sustenance of living organisms, yet it is the core responsibility of each one of us to preserve them free from pollution, exploitation. While clean environment and pure water help us most to keep diseases at bay, it is worrisome that underground water table is continuously depleting in many areas due to reckless wastage and excessive usages. Keeping in view the vitality of water, without which life is not possible, World Water Day is observed on March 22 every year, where prime agenda remains to raise awareness and its preservation for the sustenance of mankind. In our country, water scarcity in some states has reached alarming dimensions, which ought to be given foremost attention under a strategic planning like constructing recharge borewells, diversification of water-guzzling crops, sewerage treatment plants, rain harvesting and minor irrigation projects, etc. In urban areas, it is the prime duty of civic bodies/municipal authorities to provide regular supply of pure water and maintain environment in localities, which very often they lack to do. As such, the issue of cleanliness, pollution and particularly of limited supply of water free from contamination has been troubling the residents in almost all cities. The public complaints regarding leakage of water pipes, timely maintenance of water pump-sets, sewerage disposal, etc are rarely attended to promptly. At many places, water is polluted and supply so erratic that households have to install filters/ ROs for making it drinkable and dug own submersibles at heavy expenses. Thereby, the residents have to suffer despite being charged by the municipal corporations for supply of such amenities. It is, therefore, paramount for the civic bodies to manage water and sanitation efficiently and provide the same adequately to all the citizens.

Nirmaljit Singh Chatrath

Sincerity on part of MC integral

Every citizen’s access to water and sanitation are recognised by the United Nations as human rights, reflecting the fundamental nature of these basic requirements. Lack of access to safe, sufficient and affordable water has a devastating effect on the health, dignity and prosperity of every human being. Most human civilizations have entrusted these vital tasks to local governing bodies which are genuinely expected to perform them to the entire satisfaction of their residents. However, it is generally observed that majority of their constant complaints pertain to inadequate, insufficient and contaminated water supply in most of the areas. Providing pure and clean water at affordable cost without any supply restrictions, supported by effective and speedy complaints redressal system should be at the top of the priorities of any local administration. Any complaint pending for more than stipulated period should attract immediate attention of a nodal officer entrusted to ensure compliance with zero tolerance and to take suitable action against the erring staff.

JAGDISH CHANDER

Water gives life, water takes life

There is contaminated water and limited supply has troubled residents in various parts, in some areas the supply is only for one hour or two and that too not worthy of drinking water, because of industrial waste, garbage, untreated sewage and chemicals. Food made from this water can cause food poisoning and can trigger transmission of diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid and polio. Water gives life, water takes life. It is the duty of the government to ensure clean and filtered water supply free from contamination. Rural population is more at risk from water-borne diseases. Everybody can’t afford to have an RO or water filters. Try to install a big water filter for the community to have clean drinking water. Some big NGOs can also help in this cause. Sad but true, on one side so much bottled and clean water is wasted in hotels and marriage parties and other functions, and on the other side a section of people are dying in need of clean water. Value water, there is no life without it.

SHASHI KIRAN

Water safety plans are seldom implemented

Water is called the elixir of life but contaminated water has the potential to play havoc with the lives of the residents and the limited and erratic supply can put normal life out of gear. Thousands have lived without love, not one without water. We all know well that water is crucial for life even then we trash it anyway. Whether the MC is acting on the complaints and taking swift action or not, what is important is that water gets contaminated by untreated sewage, practice of bathing and washing near water bodies, throwing chemical waste and dumping agricultural waste into water. This is the area which remains neglected and breeds contamination. Hence, the purification systems should be improved drastically. For that, effective sanitation practices are necessary to produce safe drinking water. It should be ensured that clean drinking water has a balanced PH level, should be contaminant-free and rich with healthy, naturally occurring minerals. WHO produces international norms on water quality that are used as the basis for regulation standard setting worldwide. But water safety plans are seldom implemented and rarely meet even the national standards. No wonder, the unsafe water kills more people than war and all other forms of violence combined. So, it is the primary duty of the authorities to provide safe drinking water to the residents by abandoning its lackadaisical attitude. Water supply has a propensity to be affected by pressures on both the supply and demand sides which exposes vulnerabilities. Large-scale impact on supply would occur from altered ground water levels. Therefore, optimal management of water resources should be heeded if the scarce supply is to be overcome. City’s water supply structure includes surface water diversions, wells, pumps, transmission pipes, treatment and storage facilities and distribution network elements. Obviously protecting source water to reduce the presence of contaminants assumes greater importance. Of course drinking water sources are finite but the MC should make the most of them to tide over the limited supply trouble. Above all the complaints should be redressed promptly and swift action should be taken to ameliorate the lot of harried complainants. The residents at large are not satisfied with the way complaints are addressed. So, the MC ought to be complaisant to take prompt action in this regard.

Tarsem S Bumrah

Points ought to be noted!

• The Municipal Corporation must restructure supply system by replacing water supply pipelines with ground supply lines.
• Canal-based potable water supply system should be endorsed, which give synergetic effect by providing clean water and also cost down new tubewell costs
• Rainwater harvesting system must be put in the houses measuring 200 sq yard and above.
• Where water wastage is more, hand pumps must be dug out
• Residents should also take social responsibility to check wastage of water like leaking taps, open-ended pipes across the city particularly in internal areas like Haripura, Nawakot, GaMal mandi, Maqbulpura, Kitchloo Chowk, Indira Colony and at public toilets
• As per data, one litre of water is wasted in a span of 12 seconds which amounts to 54,000 litre a month and 6.48 lakh litre in a year…waste of a precious commodity!
• To act on the residents' complaints, the MC authorities should pull up the person responsible for the lapse, besides questioning the department concerned

Ankur Gupta

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