Times of India: Lucknow: Wednesday, April 16, 2014.
The Jal Kal department has responded to an RTI
query that the water supply in city is pure and fit for drinking and that
people use RO and filters only for their satisfaction, though it is not
required. The response has raised many eyebrows as complaints of contaminated
supply have often been reported from different localities.
The RTI was filed by activist Nutan Thakur seeking
information from Jal Kal about the quality of water being supplied and measures
they are taking to ensure regular cleaning of water. She is disappointed to
hear the reply as in her own colony Viram Khand, Gomtinagar, she often faces
problems of dirty water supply. "The water is mixed with sand particles,
mud, sewage content and often stinks," she said.
The Jal Kal department, Zone-5, Alambagh, Lucknow claimed
that the drinking water being supplied is tested from time to time and that
water is purified daily with bleaching powder. "Whenever any complaint
about dirty water is received the water pipeline is washed immediately",
the reply says. But these tall claims are refuted vehemently by locals of
Alambagh who struggle with water-borne diseases in summers.
Ashish, resident of Alambagh, said "water
running through the taps is pale yellow in colour for 8-10 months in a year. Sometimes,
it is also mixed with algae and sand. Jal Kal's claim to provide 100% safe drinking water is false as maximum number of diarrhea and cholera
patients are reported from Alambagh." He adds that water pipes often run
close to sewer pipelines and any leakage gives way for impurities.
Amit from Aishbagh said "pipelines are so old
they have developed perforations at multiple places. This results in mixing of
sewage and mud content in the supply." People also complain that storage
tanks are rarely cleaned and infected by dead rats, algae deposit, sand
particles, etc.
Jal Kal officials defend claiming they chlorinate
water daily at three levels-settling tank near origin, zonal reservoirs and
then finally in overhead tanks of localities which makes water fit for direct
consumption. An official said "sufficient chlorination is enough to
prevent the epidemic outbreak. RO and filters are just for people's own
satisfaction."
He adds that Jal Kal sends 100 odd samples of water from different
localities daily for testing to keep a tab on supply quality. But people argue
that apart from removing bacteria and germs, potable water should also be free
from harmful chemicals like calcium, phosphates, fluorine etc. "If these
chemicals are consumed regularly, in long term they give rise to teeth and bone
problems. RO and filters are important to remove these chemicals. Bleaching
alone cannot remove them", said Dr R K Verma.
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