Jalandhar, February 6- To tackle the problem of arsenic and heavy metal content in groundwater, the department of water supply and sanitation is set to install 11 RO systems and five water ATMs to ensure potable drinking water to people.
Divulging the details Chief Engineer KS Saini said that the move aimed at providing clean and hygienic drinking water to the people where heavy contents in water were reported. He further added that all the ROs and water ATMs would be functional by the end of this month.
The chief engineer stated that earlier the department had identified these villages, where arsenic and heavy metal contents were found in the groundwater. A project at an outlay of Rs. 1.47 Crore was chalked out to tackle this problem and subsequently RO systems and water ATMs were installed in these 16 villages.
Pointing out further, Nodal Officer of the project Executive Engineer Nitin Kalia said that two types of RO systems are being installed in the identified 16 villages that include RO systems dispensing 500-1000 litre water per hour and water ATMs dispensing water up to 250 litres per hour.
He further mentioned that RO systems with the capacity of 500-1000 litre water per hour to be installed in village Dolike Sunderpur, Khanke Fatehgarh, Chuheki, Bachhowal, Bhaini, Burj Pukhta, Cheema Khurd, Chaulla, Kala, Phillaur Killa, Dhesian whereas water ATMs to be installed in village Chuheki, Batura, Bada Pind, Birk, and Amarjitpur.
Also read: Punjab Forms State & District Level Steering and Monitoring Committees
He said that both the RO systems and ATMs would cater to the population of 12766 of 16 villages adding the RO water would be provided at a nominal price of about 15-20 paisa per liter.
Kalia said that tube wells at the depth of 400 feet have been installed along with the RO and ATM sites and the operating company would also offer door to door delivery of portable drinking water.
He said that once the power connections were installed at all 16 sites, the ROs and water ATMs would be made functional immediately. He said that the RO system would have a multi-grade filter, Activated carbon filter, Polypropylene filter, and membrane UV system.
Lauding the state government’s efforts, Sarpanch of Darolike Sunderpur Ranjit Kaur said that this scheme would definitely change the scenario in villages as people would be able to access clean and hazardous-free water. He termed this scheme the need of the hour especially in the wake of the groundwater contamination.