Muktsar residents face water shortage
As temperatures soar past 40 degrees Celsius, residents of Muktsar district are grappling with drinking water shortage, aggravated by unsafe and brackish water flowing into the Sirhind Feeder canal from the Harike barrage.
Harike barrage is situated at the confluence of the Sutlej and Beas. Sutjej is polluted by the Buddha Nullah that flows through the industrial city of Ludhiana.
To meet the demand, the Water Supply and Sewerage Board has started rationing the supply in Malout, relying on the extraction of groundwater.
“We need more water, not less. But now, every drop has to be calculated,” said Rajni Devi, a Malout resident.
Meanwhile, officials admitted that even treatment of water could not remove the black colour or bad odour from canal water. “We are using groundwater till the canal clears,” said an engineer of the Water Supply and Sewerage Board.
In Muktsar, several residents, including Ward No.8 municipal councillor Tejinder Singh Jimmy Brar, said the crisis was even worse there.
“Black water, like sewage, is flowing in our area. This may result in an outbreak of water-borne diseases,” said Jimmy.
He said the Sirhind Feeder canal water had turned brackish this month but the situation in parts of the town was already bad.
Shaminder Singh, Executive Engineer, Water Supply and Sanitation Department, Muktsar, said, “We are working to improve the situation and getting the supply system checked thoroughly. Further, we did not store the canal water in reservoirs since the brackish water started flowing into the Sirhind Feeder canal. Tubewells are our only source now.”
Meanwhile, anger is rising among farmers as canal water quality has dipped and they would soon require it to irrigate their fields.
However, Sukhjit Singh, Executive Engineer, Department of Water Resources (Canals), Gidderbaha, claimed that things were improving.
Canal closure for maintenance in May
The executive engineer of the Abohar Canal and Groundwater Division said all canals under them, including the entire Abohar branch system, will remain closed from May 16 to 31 for maintenance work.
This includes systems such as the Arniwala, Alamwala, Karamgarh, Aspal, Panjawa and Malukpura minors.
Farmers claimed the closure of the canal at this time would have an adverse effect on irrigation in both Muktsar and Fazilka districts.
Rs 28 crore to improve water quality
The Muktsar Municipal Council during its general house meeting on Thursday passed a resolution to give Rs 28 crore to the Water Supply and Sanitation Department to improve the quality of drinking water and better sewerage system in the town.
Punjab