Arunachal’s accessibility
to safe drinking water
In Indian states/UTs ranks on the percentage of households having accessibility to safe drinking water on the basis of 2011 I Census, Punjab ranked highest with 97.6%, Kerala worst with only 33.5% households having access to safe drinking water against a national average of 85.5% while Arunachal Pradesh stood at 78.6, according to Wikipedia.
Arunachal has huge water resources which reminds me Manoj Kumar’s famous film Shor (1972):
Paani Re Paani Tera Rang Kaisa…
Jisme Mila Do Lage Us Jaisa…
O Paani, Paani Re Paani
Is Duniya Mein Jeene Waale Aise Bhi Hain Jeete
Rukhi Sukhi Khatein Hai Aur Thanda Paani Peete
Tere Ek Hi Ghunt Se Milta Jannat Sa Aaram
Bhukhe Ki Bhukh Aur Pyaas Jaisa…
Paani Re Paani…
By Pradeep Kumar
POMA | Jul 22 | While the frantic call for water was reverberating throughout Capital Complex since July 9 last with nature’s fury casting its worst spell, PHED engineers have been breaking their bones to overcome its wrath as fighting against nature is well neigh impossible.
PHED CE (WZ) Toko Jyoti, after inspecting ongoing works at Mopung-Mekha and Poma river confluence along with Capital division EE Tadar Mangku, here today said that “fighting against nature is well neigh impossible but we are trying to overcome its wrath only”.
Mopung-Mekha river had changed its course, washed away numbers of 450-mm diameter pipes and eroded the road till a huge hillock. Incessant rains prevented drilling and blasting the hillock. Thus, the river is being redirected to its original course by removing the huge boulders. A JCB had developed about 120 metre passage through the river while trying to tame the original river course. The boulders are assembled to build a spur and bund through which the pipes would be laid to facilitate water supply, both said.
Interestingly, the survey for this source through other side of Rasap Hill without any path way was tough job but its execution during 2007-08 had poised tougher challenges with herds of wild elephants chasing the labourers and earthquake forcing them to escape through ropes to safety. However the process had claimed many lives and left many injured.
The present challenge is no way less as disturbed by the blasting sounds, about 300 elephants have been trumping terrifying about 50 labourers led by two JEs camping inside the hill near the confluence point, Mangku said quoting the JEs.
When asked when normal water supply could be expected, he said that “We have put our men and machines round the clock to restore water supply to entire Capital Complex in anticipation of funds. The entire process is subject to good weather condition”.
Referring to unusual rain fall this year, he quoted statistics – 772.28 mm rain fall was recorded in June 2017 against 552.7 last year and 1501.14 mm rain fall recorded during July 1-11 last while it was 840 mm during July 2016 and said that excessive rainfalls caused huge damages to water supply system. However, he made a fervent appeal to the consumers to cooperate as “we have been working against all odds. Help us to help you,” he said without mincing any words.
AE Debia Padung and JE Tamchi Tassung, who returned from Mekha intake point, 3-km ahead, said that the road has to be repaired at severely damaged five points to serve the purpose while Tassung informed that another worker had sustained grievous injuries there on Friday last.
On present water supply status of Itanagar, CE Jyoti disclosed that against a total requirement of 2.1 crore litres of water daily, the present supply was only 1 crore litres. The Senki View lifting point was supplying 70 lakh litres while Lapu, Papu and Topper sources, 9-km in higher riches on being restored, have been feeding 30 lakh litres through 150-mm and 100-mm pipes.
Therefore, worst affected areas are being supplied with water by tankers from three filling points at Geological Survey of India office, Mowb-II and Senki View, CE Jyoti said, while Mangku added that the number of tankers has been increased from 35 to 50 since Friday.
On Naharlagun-Nirjuli status, they said that the supply position was comparatively poor as only 30 lakh liters are being supplied daily against a requirement of 1 crore litres. It is meeting about 30% requirement for which 24 tankers have been pressed into service, Mangku said.
The 150-mm diameter old Papu Nallah and Borum lines have been restored temporarily and supplying water through gravity to water treatment plant to continue supply to both towns besides restoration of few sources of Nirjuli, they added.
The collapse of hanging bridge behind Naharlagun helipad along with water pipes had caused water crisis in both towns, thus they supervised the ongoing work after inspecting three filling points.
A base was being made ready by labourers under the supervision of AE Nabam Taga, JEs Takum Tatak and Ravi Varma where an abutment would be built for laying 300-mm diameter pipes to supply water from Nyorch source.
Tipper and JCB were engaged for the abutment which would be built by piling from 20-metre depth and with the anchor on other side about 30 pipes would be laid, they said while labourers were making the steel structure with 25 mm rods for the piling.
Pipes of 450-mm and 300-mm have been dispatched by trucks from Kolkata whose arrival would help in laying pipe line once the abutment is ready, the duo added.
Water water everywhere nor any drop to drink! – goes the common saying.
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