Samples from GSWSS sent to Pasteur Institute & Guwahati
SHILLONG: With contradicting reports emerging on the quality of water supplied to residents of Shillong, the State Health department has sent samples to both the Pasteur Institute and a government accredited agency in Guwahati to test the water samples of Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme.
A Health department official said on Thursday that the water samples collected from various locations of Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme have been sent for independent testing in Guwahati besides fresh testing at Pasteur Institute.
“We want to go for proper testing so that there should not be any room for complaints,” the official added.
After the youth wing of KHNAM had claimed that the water sample which was taken from the clear water storage of Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme located at 4½ Mile Upper Shillong was acidic in nature, the PHE had contradicted the claim.
While KHNAM youth wing pointed out the test result of the water as having the pH level of 5.7 which is acidic in nature after it was tested at King Edward VII Memorial Pasteur Institute and Medical Research Institute here, the PHE department in its subsequent clarification, however, did not mention any pH level percentage, but only said that the water was properly tested at the same Institute and it was found to be normal.
The Public Accounts Committee of the Assembly had also inspected the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme area recently.
Earlier, Health Minister A.L. Hek had assured that necessary steps will be taken to provide safe drinking water to the citizens of the state.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma had also asked Deputy Chief Minister in charge PHE, R.C. Laloo, to examine the matter and take necessary steps.