Filtration plant remains non-functional in Dalian Bhaderwah

BHADERWAH: Whole nation is today celebrating Dr B R Ambedkar Birth Anniversary but Dalian village of Bhaderwah which is based on SC population forced to drink filthy water.The filtration plant at Dalian village is non functional for over some years from the day of construction due to which the village that rely on it for water supply are getting contaminated water. PHE department took no pains to make functional the Dalian village filter plant . Swami Raj a villager said, “If you see our washrooms you will find them teeming with earthworms and other water insects. we often take a fright entering bathroom.”“This is why we get water for cooking purposes from a hand pump nearby,” he said adding that the water flowing from the tap in Dalian is not safe to drink. It is contaminated with bacteria, including serratia marcescens which caused urinary tract infections, pseudomonas aeruginosa which caused pneumonia and which caused diarrhoea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia. The water was also contaminated with parasites and viruses, he said.He also informed that whole village is presently getting direct water supply from a Nallah and PHE department is charging filter water annually charges from them . “Although the Public Health Engineering Department spent over Rs 12 lakh on its construction, but the villages coming under the scheme are still facing water scarcity as the plant has not been made functional,” said another villager Rakesh Kumar Bandotra alleged discrimination . He also alleged that without the functioning of filter plant PHE department withdraw worth lakhs of rupees on the name of construction and alleged that villgers also file RTI about the status of filter plant but authorties are giving wrong information “ The people are forced to consume contaminated water from rivulets and streams said Parshotam Kumar a youth accusing the officials of PHE department of being indifferent towards their problems of village and demanded immediate registration of FIR against the PHE authorities who are supplying them contaminated water supply .