Capt orders strict monitoring of drinking water supply

To check any contamination triggered by the spill of molasses into the Beas river, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday ordered testing and strict monitoring of canal-based drinking water supply in the southern parts of the state.

The instructions were issued by the Chief Minister to the Departments of Water Supply and Sanitation, Water Resources, Local Government and Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) to undertake detailed testing of the water supply in towns and villages in southern Punjab.

He has asked these departments to constitute special teams for testing of water quality, and to take all necessary steps to check any contamination of the drinking water.

The Chief Minister has also directed the Deputy Commissioners of the concerned districts to closely monitor the water supply in towns and villages, and to promptly address any problem.

The DCs have also been asked to coordinate with the Water Resources Department to ensure cleaning of water channels of dead fish in their respective jurisdictions.

PPCB had directed the Departments of Water Supply and Sanitation and the Local Government to close the inlet points for their water supply schemes to prevent contaminated water from flowing in from upstream Beas.

Though the release of additional fresh water into the river had led to significant improvement in the situation, the government was taking no chances, said the government spokesperson.

Spokesperson stated that the water works in the districts of Faridkot, Fazilka, Muktsar and Ferozepur had adequate storage to tide over this temporary problem. The concerned agencies had been asked to carry out regular water testing for quality in their respective water supply schemes for the next one week as a precautionary measure, added the spokesperson.

Supply of clean and clear water in the canals downstream of Harike was likely to be restored within next 24 hours, said the spokesperson.