Srinagar, May 24: In a bid to prevent misuse of potable water, the Public Health Engineering Department on Tuesday started a drive against the offenders.
 The PHE officials in a statement said: “The misuse of potable water for kitchen gardens, lawns, construction works, washing of vehicles and roads etc was causing inconvenience in neighborhoods in particular and scarcity of potable water to areas in general.”

THE DRIVE
 In order to fight the misuse, a Flying Squad comprising of Assistant Engineers, Junior Engineers and Inspectors associated with line staff has been constituted by the department for the inspections in the City.

THE RAIDS
 On the first day, scores of rubber pipes and boosters were recovered and put to ashes.
 The raids were conducted in the South City areas like  Rawalpora, Charm Wood Colony, Pir Bagh, Hyderpora, Rahmatabad, Jeelanabad, Umarabad –A, Umarabad – B, Wanbal and adjacent localities.
 “During the operation a big number of consumers from all walks of life were found misusing potable water using rubber / plastic hoses for lawn, kitchen garden watering etc,” PHE Executive Engineer, Rafi Ahmed Malik said.
 He said the Masjid Intizaamiyas and Molvis could also play a role in educating people to refrain from the water misuse.
 “Misuse of drinking water is a sin because this way we deprive others of their genuine share,” he argued.
 He said if people can afford to maintain lawns and kitchen gardens they should also spend money to utilize underground water through hand pumps and wells.

FLYING SQUAD EMPOWERED
 “The Flying Squad is empowered to conduct random checking of the premises of the consumers to check misuse of precious drinking water, remove on line boosters, confiscate rubber pipes found using potable water for purposes other than drinking,” the PHE officials said.
 “The offenders shall also be dealt with law provided under Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Act 2010,” they added.
 The Fyling Squad can also seek police assistance, to avoid any law and order problem, in case the need arises during the drive.

APPEAL
 Meanwhile the consumers have been appealed not to misuse potable water.
 “Consumers are earnestly requested to desist from such unlawful practices, which directly cause inconvenience in neighborhoods as well as to the respective areas,” the PHE said in a public notification.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 24 May 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 24 May 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 IST