The public health engineering department (PHE) has failed to install a single water storage tank in Srinagar since the last seven years, revealed an RTI.
MM Shuja, an RTI activist, had filed an RTI with the PHE department seeking details of water storage tanks installed in Srinagar over the years. “Since 2012 no water storage tank has been installed,” the PHE department stated in response to the RTI.
Water tanks are used for storing drinking water, irrigation, agriculture, fire suppression, agricultural farming, chemical manufacturing and food preparation, among other uses.
In 2001, water storage tanks were constructed at Gupkar Mohalla, Danpora, and Alusteng, and a year later a water storage tank came up at Miskeen Bagh city area. After a gap of 11 years, a water storage tank with a capacity of 1 lakh gallons was constructed at Mehjoor Nagar area. Since then no water tank has been installed.
“We have enough storage tanks to cater to the needs of people in Srinagar. Given the poor distribution system here, we have asked the government to provide us funds. We need to change the capacity of the pipes and then we will be able to assess where actually we need the water storage tanks. As of now we have sufficient water tanks,” said Chief Engineer PHE, Abdul Wahid.