Amid corona scare, over two lakh households in Srinagar are suffering for want of potable water, for Malshahi Bagh canal, a source to several water supply schemes, is lying defunct since December last year following damage.
Former DivisionalCommissioner Kashmir, Baseer Khan had directed the authorities to workdouble-shift so that the canal is restored by February 15. An official said Rs 2.60 crore was sanctionedto carry out the repairs.
However, four months afterthe canal was damaged, the authorities in the Irrigation and Flood Control(I&FC) department said it would take “some more time” as the contractorfirm and labourers have abandoned the work in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.
Due tothe failure of the department to complete the work on time, around two lakh households aresuffering at a time when the WHO has recommended frequent hand washing and maintaining cleanliness amidcoronavirus.
Chief Engineer, I&FC,Shahnawaz Ahmad said: “I can’t commit on when the work will be completed.”
He said the labourers andthe contractor have stopped the work on the project in the wake of coronavirus.”Only after the situation improves, I can give you date when the project willbe completed.”
ThePublic Health Engineering (PHE) Department is facing criticism because of thedelay in the restoration of the project, though its authorities maintain theywere “helpless.”
“Everyday, I receive scores of calls from people complaining water shortage. We aremanaging supply somehow through pipes to filtration plants. But it does notsuffice,” said Chief Engineer PHE, Abdul Wahid.
He said50 MGD water supply schemes were affected by the damage in the feeding canal.
Thedamage to Malshahibagh canal, the main source to various schemes includingRangil (WSS), Alesteng (WSS), Hadoora, Shuhama and Bakoora, occurred onDecember 2 and the restoration work was immediately taken up.