The incessant heavy rains in Uttarakhand have claimed the lives of many and damaged infrastructure and property in Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts along with other areas.
The devastation also includes damage to hundreds of potable water schemes in the mountainous areas of Garhwal division. A total of 420 water schemes comprising 22 urban and 398 rural water schemes have been damaged in the five mountainous districts of Garhwal. The Srinagar Alaknanda potable water pumping scheme’s 10 pumps were submerged by the Alaknanda in spate causing a break in the supply to Srinagar town, district head quarter Pauri and rural areas for the last four days.
More than 1.5 lakh people are facing a serious shortage of potable water due to the disruption in supply. The people are relying solely on natural water sources. Four tubewells in Shakti Vihar and three under construction tubewells were totally damaged in Srinagar in the flood.
However, Jal Sansthan, general manager, Garhwal, PC Kimothi informed that water supply had been restored to Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Gopeshwar and Joshimath on Thursday.
According to information from the Jal Sansthan general manager, Garhwal’s office, 22 urban potable water schemes and 398 rural schemes have been damaged though this number might increase as full details of the damaged schemes have not yet been received.
In Pauri district, two city water schemes in Srinagar and 29 rural schemes were damaged while this number is one city and 45 rural schemes in Kotdwar; three city and 62 rural schemes in Chamoli district; two city and 51 rural water schemes in Rudraprayag district; three city and 112 rural schemes in Tehri, one city and 35 rural schemes in Devprayag, while in Uttarkasi district two city and 64 rural schemes have been damaged due to heavy rains experienced from June 16 to 18.
Jal Sansthan executive engineer Rajendra Rohela told The Pioneer that the silt in the pumps at Srinagar had been removed and the motors were being repaired as the level of the river had decreased. He said that partial supply of water from Alaknanda potable pumping scheme will start from Friday.