SHILLONG: The High Court of Meghalaya on Thursday heard a PIL on the problems related to water supply in the city and preferred a research institute to investigate the oily film appearing on the surface of supplied drinking water to consumers.
In this regard, the Shillong Municipal Board will file the latest status after proper investigation of the matter by the Research Institution is done, the court said.
The Chief Executive Officer, Shillong Municipal Board filed a detailed affidavit highlighting therein, the activities of the Board while coming to the relevant subject i.e., water supply.
It was stated that the limit of water supply by the SMB per day is about 20.83 Million Liters out of which 18.00 MLD are supplied by the PHE Department through the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme and only 2.83 MLD comes from the municipal sources.
They prepared a table revealing as to what is the discharge from the sources “Wahrisa, Wahjahlynnoh, Umjasai, Madan Laban, Crinoline, Patta Khana and Wahdienglieng” during the dry and monsoon seasons, the court said.
Regarding distribution, it was stated that on an average about 22.18 MLD of water is supplied to the municipality of Shillong. The civic board showed an average quantity of water received from GSWSS at each zone. According to the affidavit, the per capita supply of water is about 95.17 lpcd daily as against the standard of 135 lpcd. The shortage of water supply in certain localities has been taken note of and steps have been taken for enhancing the quantity of supply in those areas.
Lowest supply of water
The area with inadequate water supply is the Lumkartic- Harisabha area of Laban which receives only 20 minutes of water in the morning as well as in the evening with low flow hardly one can collect a bucket or two. It was said that positive steps are stated to have been taken i.e., survey has been conducted so as to ensure that the residents get adequate supply of water.
Then regarding quality control, it has been stated that periodic check is conducted by the SMB at various points i.e., sources at the household level and it is noticed that the contamination is caused by the presence of coliform.
It was also stated that steps have been taken to protect the water sources by fencing to prevent trespassing and tampering with the sources of water by the adjacent neighbours.
The work was taken up by PHE during 2003-04 and it was not shown as to how much target has been achieved and Court asked it to be clarified.
It was further stated that it is largely dependent on the PHE Department for adequate supply of water to the city. For quality control steps are being taken to secure water sources, storage reservoirs and distribution tanks. The frequency tests will also be increased to ensure the safety of the drinking water.
The Court said that the Chief Executive Officer will remain present on the next date to explain the position regarding the supply of water in Lumkartic and steps taken for redressing the grievances of the inhabitants. The Chief Executive Officer will also explain the contents of the affidavit so as to remove ambiguity.
Water samples collected
Meanwhile, Member Secretary of Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board also filed an affidavit stating therein, that the water samples were collected from four locations, (1) GSWS Dam at Mawphlang (Raw Water), (2) GSWS Water Reservoir, Mawphlang (Treated Water), (3) GSW Water Reservoir at 4 ½ Mile (Treated Water),
Upper Shillong, and (4) Drinking water from consumer end, Mawphlang.
Regarding location No. (1), it was mentioned that the water quality does not conform to the acceptable limit for drinking water with respect to Turbidity and Total Coliform. Oil and grease were found to be below detectable limit in the tested sample.
Regarding locations No. (2), (3) and (4), it stated that the water quality conforms to acceptable limit for drinking water with respect to tested parameters.