More steps are still awaited by the department concerned for repairing those potable water pipelines that were badly damaged in the natural calamities that played havoc in the month of June.
All those residents who are living in the higher parts of the state would become the major sufferers, if the damaged potable water pipelines are not repaired by the department concerned before the advent of next summer season.
All those residents who are living in the remote and hilly terrains of the state are considered worst sufferers in terms of shortage of
potable water.
Villagers are forced to traverse several kilometers to quench their thirst. Well established sources revealed that Tehri district is
worst affected in terms of damaged potable water pipelines followed by Uttarkashi district of Garhwal division of the State.
As many as 513 potable water pipelines in Tehri and 470 potable water pipelines are reported to be damaged in the natural disaster. Additionally, 350, 214 and 181 potable water pipelines were damaged in Dehradun, Chamoli and Pauri districts respectively.
Sources confirmed that 100 and five potable water pipelines are also damaged in Rudraprayag and Haridwar districts respectively.
In the Kumaon division of the state, Almora and Nainital districts are major sufferers as 199 and 158 potable water pipelines are damaged in these districts. Additionally, 147, 75 and 76 potable water pipelines are reported to be damaged in Pithoragarh, Champawat and Bageshwar district of Kumaon division of the State.
Well established sources revealed that Rs105.59 crore is required to completely repair the damaged potable water pipelines besides, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank is likely to sanction Rs72 crore and Rs144 crore for repairing and renovation of damaged potable water pipelines.
After assuring that strict department instructions are regularly given to the nodal agencies for repairing the damaged potable water pipelines at earliest, one of the department sources from Jal Sansthan, who wished anonymity told The Pioneer that the damaged potable water pipelines are repaired in two phase. “Department is repairing the damaged potable
water pipelines first in order to ensure the supply of
potable water to the residents and to even those residents who are living in the fringe parts of the state,” he revered, adding that damaged potable water pipelines would be renovated at later stage in order to meet with the demand of potable water in the particular region.
He told that the department has been working round the clock for ensuring the supply of potable water but financial constraints have been regularly hampering the department efforts for carrying repair works in the higher parts of the State.