Owais Ayoub
Srinagar 15 July (KNB): Locals of Baramulla district’s Malpora village on Thursday said that a water filtration plant in the area, which used to supply drinking water, has been in defunct condition for quite some time despite of huge investment made on it by the government.
Locals of the Malpora said that the filtration plant used to be functional in the past, and its water was used for drinking purposes, but later the plant discontinued from the same due to multiple reasons.
“The defunctness of the filtration plant was contributed due to the accumulation of waste in it and dirt from the surrounding area, which rendered the plant almost filthy and its water not fit for consumption,” said a local, Manzoor Ahmad Rather.
He further said that the government had made a huge investment in the filtration plant, but it came to no use as the plant can still not provide drinking water for the people.
Another local said that the plant’s chances of getting dirtier were always high as the plant is located in the forest area where wild animals roam around, polluting the water further as the filtration plant has been kept uncovered.
“The filtration point’s already worsening condition was further aggravated after the concerned department’s employees stopped it from functioning altogether in fear of the water-born diseases’ possibility to arise from it,” the local said, adding, the department’s apathy has cost too much to the filtration plant.
However, the locals further seeked the attention of the concerned department to help in making the filtration plant functional.
On contacting AEE PHE Baramulla, Zaffar regarding the issue, he said that the plant is working normally and there is no problem related to water, but all it needs is the mesh covering to keep the wild animals which locals say are seen in the area, at bay.
However, he also said that the filtration plant’s area is in an isolation zone, and hinted at it as a reason affecting the function of the plant.
“Generally, filtration plants are not covered with mesh, but this is a special case, and therefore the required things for the concerned filtration plant have been kept in the Jal Jeevan Mission. After its approval, we will start laying mesh on the plant,” said Zaffar. (KNB)