The Indian Express 27.06.2013
Water samples from shallow tubewells fail tests
Even as the Municipal Corporation is exploring the possibility to
make use of water from shallow tubewells for drinking purposes, two of
the samples that were tested have failed.
The civic body would be testing a total of 38 water samples.
A discussion on the issue was held in the meeting of the Finance and
Contract Committee where the agenda to install 45 new tubewells came up
for discussion.
These tubewells will draw water from deep acquifiers.
From December this year, 9 million gallons daily (MGD) of
water from Chandigarh would be diverted to Panchkula and Chandimandir.
The Municipal Corporation is exploring different options to tide over
any shortage out of this.
A report has been prepared by a committee comprising three Executive Engineers.
One of the options proposed is the possibility of using
water from shallow tubewells for drinking purpose. Samples from some
tubewells were collected.
Two of the samples have failed the test with the bacterial
content being much higher than the permissible limit. Presence of
ammonia was also found.
An official stated that 38 samples will be tested. If
eight to 10 of these fail in the tests, then this option would be
dropped.
In fact, a report on “State of Environment
Chandigarh-2012”, released by the Environment Department recently,
states that no groundwater from shallow tubewells in Chandigarh is
prescribed as drinkable.
The proposal to install 45 new tubewells was approved. The
BJP councillors however raised some questions over this. Councillor
Arun Sood said, “We have demanded that a more detailed discussion on the
issue be held and opinions of experts be sought. The Central Ground
Water Board needs to be consulted. No study has been conducted on
whether the sites where the tubewells are proposed to be installed have
availability of sufficient water.”
As many as six tubewells are proposed to be installed at water works
in Sector 39. Apprehension has been expressed by councillors at what it
would do to the receding groundwater level.
Also, as per studies on the groundwater level, the
conditions are better in the northern sectors as compared to the
southern sectors.
In fact, the tubewells in the southern sectors are not proving to be
successful and several have become defunct within a short period.
Chandigarh receives 87 mgd water of which 67 mgd is canal
water received from Kajauli Water Works and around 20 mgd is from
tubewells.
Since the share of Haryana from canal water has to be
given, Chandigarh would be left with 78 mgd of water while the peak
demand is 113 mgd.
