North East Watch

Dhubri, Nov. 20, 2008: Dilapidated tanks and impure drinking water will soon be things of the past in Dhubri town. Under the greater Dhubri treated drinking water project, new pipelines have been laid in the town areas.

“By the end of next year, the project will be commissioned and then there will be no shortage of drinking water. Besides, the water will be free from any sort of contamination”, an official in Dhubri Municipal Board said.

Though pure drinking water is the key to good health, the civic body has shown scant regard for this. The outbreak of water-borne diseases in many parts of Dhubri town bears testimony to laxity on the part of the board.

Sources in the civic body said the 2.25 lakh-litre capacity water tank, built in 1951 on Dhubri Pound Road in ward number 4, is now in a deplorable condition. Leakage of water has been regularly reported over the years but no action taken to repair the cracks.

The underground drinking water distribution pipelines, which were laid nearly 60 years back, are worn out and rusted in some places. To make matters worse, water gets exposed to dirt through holes in the pipelines, consequently contaminating it, sources added.

Monojit Paul, a resident of ward 4, alleged that instead of replacing the tank, the authorities continue to do patchwork repairs and use it for public water supply.

“Though there is a sharp hike in water tax, the supply continues to be irregular,” Paul alleged.

Sources said when there is an outbreak of cholera or diarrhoea, medical teams jump into the primary role of curing patients instead of plugging the source of the disease.

Nurul Amin, the sub-divisional medical and health officer, said a majority of the people get affected by water-borne diseases. “There should be a sustainable campaign on micro-organism-free drinking water,” he opined, stressing the need for supply of pure potable water.

Source: The Telegraph