Shillong Oct 3: The Khun Hynñiewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) demanded that a special inquiry should be constituted to verify the quality of drinking water being supplied to the people of Shillong city.

In a memorandum submitted on Wednesday to PHE Minister, Samlin Malngiang, KHNAM state youth wing president, Thomas Passah said that safety and health of the general public is the most important responsibility of any Government.

Stating water being supplied to households appeared to be greasy/oily thereby bringing doubt and fear among many residents of the City, Passah said that the party had approached the previous government on several occasions after finding that the drinking water supplied to the citizen of the state was unsafe/contaminated.

“The greasy/oily water received at the tabs of various households has made many worried and the quality of safe drinking water is under question,” he said.

According to him, concerns over the functioning of the PHE at Mawphlang which did not have a Microbiologist to certify the quality of drinking water was also raised from time to time.

The pathetic/unhygienic condition of pipelines supplying water to adjacent localities from Khlieh ïew was also conveyed to the Government for necessary action.

Referring to information received recently through RTI, Passah said, “It has confirmed that till date, the PHE at Mawphlang do not have a Microbiologist or an Assistant Analyst on its strength since the matter is pending with the State government and the MPSC.”

Reminding that water is the very basic of life and foundation for human survival and development, he said, “Safe drinking water is recognized as basic human rights and a cost effective measures of reducing disease (i.e preventative medicine). Therefore, we strongly suggest the present Government to ensure safe drinking water to the public.”

Meanwhile, the KHNAM youth wing asked the PHE department to ensure that a Microbiologist is made available at the PHE Mawphlang to check and certify the quality of water being supplied to the public every day.

It also suggested that pipelines supplying drinking water to localities needs to be improved.

“The government needs to have a water policy or a drinking water guidelines and regulations to ensure that all human beings within the State access to safe drinking water,” he said, adding that the Government of India has also recognized the importance of 24×7 supplies.

The Ministry of Urban Affair Development has made 24×7 water supplies a benchmark for water providers and has also issued a Guidance Note on Continuous Water Supply.

The important of Continuous water supply is critical for the people’s health. When the pipes remain full, the water remains clean. Under intermittent service when pumping stops ground water from surrounding areas can be sucked in bringing with it wastewater from drains. If the pipes are continuously filled with water there is less chance of such contamination, he said.