ITANAGAR, 11 May: The three-member fact finding committee constituted by the state government to examine the issues raised by social activist Sol Dodum, has made several recommendations, including upgrading the designs of the water treatment plants (WTPs) to improve drinking water supply in Seppa in East Kameng district.
The committee, which submitted its findings to the government on Wednesday, observed that the water supply system was satisfactory in the olden days as there was clean and uncontaminated water at the sources.
“However, with increasing population and more settlements coming up, turbidity and contamination increased due to landslides, settlements etc. on upstream side of water sources,” the committee observed.
Dodum has been demanding clean drinking water supply in Seppa township and restoration of the road damaged during laying of water supply pipes.
It suggested upgrading the water works at Kuchi Nallah in view of the changed environmental requirements and strengthening the existing WTP at Macha Nallah using latest available technologies.
“Certain design changes would help in boosting the existing project,” it said.
“With regards to Nyari Welly WTP, the works need to be completed as per the timeline so that better treated water could be supplied to Seppa township,” the committee suggested.
It said that after completion of the project, the entire Seppa township will be supplied water from this source and that reliance on other sources would be minimal.
The committee suggested availing the services of registered and experienced technical consultants for designing, execution and monitoring of works through EPC mode.
The committee suggested the DC and the PHED to take all necessary actions to ensure timely completion of all the three WTPs.
“As regards to the allegations against DC and also as regards action not taken by the police, the committee observed that the action taken by DC and police is satisfactory as per rules and requirement of public safety and security,” the committee said.
The committee observed that the allegations about ‘impure’ water are due to uncontrolled development and unplanned settlements in the catchment areas and around the water sources.
Besides discouraging settlements in catchment areas, the committee suggested notifying water sheds and catchment areas of all drinking water sources in the state.
“It is seen that there are major issues of non-notification and protection of catchment areas, leading to developmental activities, mostly unauthorized, like leveling of ground and dumping of garbage in newly expanding settlements,” the committee observed.
The committee also observed, “There is lack of security arrangements at the source points as most of these are in interior areas thus, there is possibility of willful sabotage/contamination.”
The committee suggested PHED that it may designate some of the staff as guards to keep a regular watch on these sources.
Meanwhile, the government has decided to constitute a core group of officers at the state level under the chairmanship of the PHED&WS minister to oversee the implementation of the projects taken up in Seppa as well as to explore latest, cost effective and viable technologies and designs for water supply projects.
