MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir Digital): The spring water in Muzaffarabad is no longer safe and people should trust the water supply more without fear and danger, an officer of the Public Health Department said.
While talking at the Kashmir Digital podcast, Engineer Yasir Ali Gilani said that the drinking water crisis in Azad Kashmir has worsened.
In response to a question about the spring water in Muzaffarabad, the Public Health Department official said that the water of springs is either drying up or if there is one, those springs have also become polluted.
On the question regarding the reason for water pollution in Muzaffarabad, he added that globally, 97.5 percent of water is salty out of which 35 percent is saline, which is not drinkable. “The rivers flowing in the state account for only 3 percent of drinking water.”
Emphasising the need for water, Engr. Gilani added that water is more valuable and important than all other resources including gold.
“Unfortunately, we have been hearing or seeing since childhood that natural evaporation from the oceans and rivers carries water and it rises and collides, which causes rain, but now we have disturbed this natural phenomenon, due to which water problems have started increasing.”
Furthermore, Gilani explained that there is an international standard integrated system for water in Muzaffarabad.
He said that 9.2 million gallons of water are being supplied to the people, while the capacity is 12.5 million.” The water for Muzaffarabad comes from 74 water resources, a tank of 1 million gallons in Makri and MCBT has built tanks of 400,000 and through all of them.
Along with this, we have a lab system that checks the quality of water, while we also have interaction with PCRWR, Engr. Yasir said.
Moreover, Engineer Yasir Ali Gilani said that in the recently period, UNDP has signed an agreement with the Azad Kashmir government for two years. As per the agreement, the water supply policy of Kashmir has been prepared by LGRT, which in the past did not make any sanitation policy in Azad Kashmir.
Now, with the support of UNICEF, the Department of Local Government and Rural Development signed an agreement regarding the preparation of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Safe Drinking Water Policy.
