State water: All?s not well

Jamshedpur, Oct. 18: Unicef and two premier institutions of the state ? Jamshedpur-based National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML) and Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra ? have joined hands to conduct a six-month survey to ascertain the quality of water in the four districts of the state.

NML has been entrusted with the responsibility of carrying out the survey in Sahibganj and Pakur. While, BIT, Mesra, will undertake a similar exercise in Palamau and Garwah. Both these institutions have sophisticated water-testing laboratories.

There are indications that the quality of underground water in these four districts is not as good as the state?s other districts. While the underground water in Sahibganj and Pakur have high arsenic content, the underground water in the other two districts have high fluoride content.

?These two institutions shall begin the survey in the first week of November,? said state water and sanitation officer of Unicef, S.N. Singh.

He added that both NML and BIT, Mesra, would engage volunteers from NGOs with a proven track record to help in carrying out the survey. ?We have set a deadline of six months for both organisations to present their findings to Unicef. Based on the findings, we shall plan remedial measures to improve the quality of water in these four districts,? the senior Unicef official added.

The survey will include collecting water samples from each water source in the district and carrying out a field test with the kit. If the level of arsenic or fluoride is found to be too high, the volunteers will paint the water source in red, indicating that it is not fit for consumption.

Singh said every underground water source, be it a tube well or well, in each village of these four districts would be examined and water samples would be collected. ?We have already briefed NML and BIT, Mesra, authorities on how to undertake the survey,? he added.

Unicef sources said both NML and BIT, Mesra would impart training to the volunteers for the work, especially on how to collect and test water samples.

?Unicef has told these two institutions that the work must be taken up in a methodical manner,? said an official.

Discussions are also on with the state government for establishing water-testing labs in these four districts.