World Water Day: Close to half of JK’s population lacks access to clean drinking water

By Hirra Azmat

Srinagar: Despite the tall claims of the state government, access to clean and safe water is still a challenge for consumers in the Valley.
According to official figures, around 65 per cent population of the state has access to tap water—34.7 per cent from treated sources and 29.2 per cent from untreated sources.
Data shows that 6.5 percent people use water from wells, which include 1.9 per cent covered and 4.7 per cent uncovered ones.
The rest of the population depends on open sources such as springs, lakes, and canals.
Doctors at the SMHS Hospital have noticed the effects of this lack of access to clean water.
“Most water-borne diseases are common in the state, and these can be controlled only when we get water from treated sources,” a doctor at the hospital said.
Official data issued by the central ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation shows that the state last year registered 5,15,013 cases of Acute Diarrheal disease, 57,537 cases of Enteric Fever, and 5,110 cases of Viral Hepatitis.
In 2015, the numbers were 4,72,843 cases of Acute Diarrheal Disease, 5,25,39 cases of Enteric Fever, and 4,028 cases of Viral Hepatitis.
A Public Health Engineering (PHE) official, wishing anonymity, said, “The rickety apparatus for water testing, and poor state of existing water supply schemes was resulting in poor quality of drinking water in Kashmir.”
“In many areas of Kashmir, especially the rural ones, water is supplied through pumping stations that neither have filtration plants nor reservoirs.”
The Kashmir Monitor visited the treatment plant at Padshahi Bagh here to assess the facility, which was set up in 2006 and commissioned in 2012 for water supply to uptown areas including Raj Bagh, Mehjoor Nagar, and Jawahar Nagar.
About 1.125 mgal/d of water is supplied to the consumers from the plant, which, the officials claim, is the second best facility in the state.
Yet, the bridge over the river leading to the facility is covered with stinking garbage and litter.
The stink is the first thing that strikes the senses. The garbage floats on the trickle that flows into the plant.
The stairway that leads to the facility is covered by thick dust, so is the floor of the filtration room itself.
Only a handful of staff members run the plant. This reporter spotted only three staffers running the show, and they don’t wear gloves, masks or aprons.
The testing laboratory is a small cramped room, with rickety apparatus scattered on the counter and chemicals haphazardly arranged on a rack.
The water that enters the plant appears a shade of blue and black with froth on the surface.
The staff, however, said only alum and bleaching powder is used for the treatment of water.
Abdul Wahid, Chief Engineer PHE department, however, blames other departments.
“Pollution free water bodies are to be ensured by the departments concerned, for example municipalities, notified area committees, and District Development Commissioners,” he said.
“It is their responsibility to not allow pollution of water bodies from industrialisation or habitations. It is their first and foremost duty.”
The official in charge of the filtration process, Nisar Ahmad, laments: “Earlier the water that came from the Jhelum used to be so clear that we didn’t need another machine to clean it.”
“From the last several years, the water quality has degraded considerably. The water has become dirtier and smells far worse now,” he said.
“We have so far been able to dispose of the pollutants in the water. With damaging water quality, the need to upgrade the infrastructure may arise.”
The Chief Engineer said, “We have upgraded the filter technology. Earlier we had slow sand filters, but we have replaced them now with rapid sand filters. Alum has been replaced by the more effective chemicals.”
“Earlier solid chlorine and bleaching powder was used for purifying but now highly advanced processes are followed.”