To back up her claims, she pointed out alarming data from the Public Health Engineering Department showing that 295 water samples throughout the Sirsa district completely failed basic quality tests.
File Photo: IANS
Congress MP from Sirsa and former Union Minister Kumari Selja on Wednesday sought a technical audit of Sirsa’s drinking water supply system, alleging that repeated complaints of contaminated water raised serious concerns over public health.
In a statement, Selja questioned the functioning of the Rs 200-crore RO-based drinking water project launched in 2014, saying residents continued to report unsafe drinking water despite the investment made in the project.
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To back up her claims, she pointed out alarming data from the Public Health Engineering Department showing that 295 water samples throughout the Sirsa district completely failed basic quality tests. Out of those, 183 toxic samples were flagged right inside Sirsa city limits. The situation has clearly hit a boiling point, with locals filing upwards of 170 separate complaints about foul water and erratic supply lines over just the last seven days.
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Selja pointed the finger at the city’s crumbling underground infrastructure, noting that many of these water mains are anywhere from 40 to 60 years old and well past their expiration date. She pressed the government to quit relying on temporary, band-aid fixes and commit to a full replacement of the damaged network. She also sought an independent assessment of the RO project’s functioning, regular disclosure of water quality reports, and alternative arrangements to provide safe drinking water until the problem is resolved.
“The government should explain why people are still facing unsafe drinking water despite such a large investment in the project,” she said.
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