ITANAGAR, JUNE 30 ; The people of Bhalukpong township bordering Assam in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh is reeling under acute drinking water crisis for more than a week as several parts of all the water supply line to the sub-division headquarter has been scraped at multiple location. Said an official.
PHED Bhalukpong PHED sub-division Asstiant Engineer Osem Moyong inform that due to massive landslide on June 20 a portion of main supply line of 150 MM dia has been washed away near Lumum water fall and after thorough inspection it has been found that more than 20 pipes has been washed away and they are at prone to landslide area and continuously since then, we are trying to reconnect but failed as the heavy rainfall and landslide is the main obstruction and hurdle to restore the pipeline and water supply to the township but failed. AE said.
To provide water supply to the whole of township is a challenging task but due to support extended by ITBP and GREEF we could managed water to the door step on every alternate days to the denizens of Upper and Lower Bhalukpong through water tankers. All total there are three water tankers pressed into services one from ITBP of 6000 liter capacity, another from GREF of same capacity and a tanker of PHED of 11000 liter capacity. The tanker of ITBP and GREF make two trip each and they also manage water for their own force and manpower. The Tanker of the PHED has to make several round and on every alternative day it has to make around 8 trips since morning to late night. At last additional driver form Bomdila has been called to manage the water supply tanker in the township. The AE said.
It is almost ten days and we could not restore the damaged portion as the only route of the water supply line from Pinjoli to Bhalukpong which is located at around 20 KM away is the roadside through Bomdila-Bhalukpong (BCT road) which often damaged and blockaded due to landslide in monsoon and the pipefitter and workers could not carry out restoration work properly even after several attempt. He said.
We have a small alternate plan to lift water through nearby water source of river tributary and we are managing some machines and fitting for it form Guwahati and will see that can be able to arrange the system which may cost much in compare to restoration which is also not possible, but in the interest of public service we are trying best effort in the hard time of heavy monsoon disaster being experienced. He added.
He further inform that we will made attempt to repair and restored the pipeline so that the normal water supply is made possible to 800 household with around 6000 population.
It is to mention that since the whole of North East region is experiencing heavy rainfall so it is better to catch the rain and try to make the rain water harvesting for several purpose and the requirement of drinking water would be minimum till the water supply by PHED is fully restored.
