SHILLONG: The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) youth wing has asked the State government to publish notifications in newspapers on the test reports of the pH value of water and the presence of bacteria from sources of drinking water, for public awareness.
Speaking to reporters here after submitting a memorandum to Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, KHNAM youth wing president Thomas Passah asserted, “If the State government can put up daily temperatures, then it should notify water reports as well.”
In their memorandum, KHNAM mentioned that the water supplied through the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS) from Mawphlang is unsatisfactory for human consumption.
On being queried as to why they had to meet the Urban Affairs minister, Passah said, “There are some reports of PHE water indicating that it is unsatisfactory for drinking whereas most of the negative reports are from Municipal sources of drinking water.” “After an RTI was filed it is revealed that out of 700 tests report conducted, 570 were stated as satisfactory, none of the reports stated that the water was unfit for human consumption except that it is mentioned as unsatisfactory,” Passah said.
Besides, it is further mentioned that water sample of Umjasai SMB, collected from Khlieh Iewduh and Upper Mawprem have been tested and 27 sampled tested between May 2015 and November 2015 have been declared as unfit for human consumption. Water sample of Wahrisa, SMB collected from Upper Malki Reservoir, Upper Lachumiere Reservoir have been tested and 29 tests between April 2015 and February 2016 have revealed that water is high on iron and is unfit for human consumption.
The minister informed the delegation that a meeting will be convened on May 2 where experts from Pasteur Institute and PHE department will be present to discuss the issue of safe drinking water in the State.
In connection with the alleged supply of unsafe drinking water in the State, Passah stated that the government is incapable to handle the issue.
“The government should take steps to provide potable water to the people by bringing in advance technology for treatment of water,” Passah said, adding that KHNAM will find out ways and means to pressurize the State government to provide potable water.
KHNAM also raised the issue of revision of the minimum wages and demanded fixing of wages for different categories of labour.
In addition, Passah pointed out that in some government departments some labourers engaged in their jobs for close to 20 years, earn Rs 170 as daily wage which is equivalent wages paid to an unskilled labourer. He asserted that as per the notification, a labourer working for more than 10 years should be termed as highly skilled.
Besides, the KHNAM youth president said that the Labour minister should ensure that labourers working for longer periods of time should be recognize as highly skilled labourers.
