SRINAGAR: In view of the damage in the Sindh Extension Canal at Malshahi Bagh in Ganderbal district, the Srinagar administration has pressed into service 25 water tankers to tackle shortage of water in the affected areas in the north of the district.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Wednesday authorised release of 10 lac rupees to the PHE department for operating these water tankers in the affected areas for as long as required.
The operation of the tanker service is in addition to other measures taken to ensure the affected areas in the district are supplied water through the normal course at least twice daily.
The administration has designated two Junior Engineers of the PHE department as nodal officers for the tanker service in the affected areas. The officers can be contacted Manzoor Ahmad at 9419011309 and Azhar Mirza at 9906444055.
Four Naib Tehsildars will oversee the tanker operation service in the affected areas and ensure those requiring it are provided the service as and when requested.
In the affected areas of Hazratbal tehsil the residents can contact Sami Ullah at 9419010054 and Ghulam Jeelani at 7006584353 whereas in the affected areas of Eidgah Tehsil the residents can contact Nazir Ahmad at 9419068013 and M Rajab at 9419019289.
The DC said the said 25 tankers have been dedicated for providing water to these affected areas adding that the PHE department has been instructed to ensure provision of the tanker service to all these areas as and when required.
It was informed that in spite of the damage to the canal the affected areas are being supplied water for three hours each in the morning and in the evening which is in addition to tanker service.
Meanwhile, the administration has appealed to the residents of these areas not to use water boosters during the said hours when water is supplied to these areas adding that their use puts a pressure on the interim bypass measures used thereby threatening to break it down.
It may be noted that the damage in the Sindh Extension Canal occurred from sloughing earlier this month affecting the 6.8 MGD Alasteng WTP which supplies water to several areas in the north of Srinagar. Since then efforts are afoot to restore the damage.
