CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court has directed the Water Corporation of Odisha (WATCO) to file by August 28 a detailed affidavit indicating steps taken to maintain quality standards of drinking water supplied to people in Cuttack city.
The court issued the direction on Tuesday while hearing a PIL seeking intervention for supply of safe drinking water supply in the city. Maitree Sansad, a city-based voluntary organisation, had filed the petition in 2016 and advocate Ajay Mohanty represented it.
In an affidavit placed before the court on Tuesday, Debabrata Mohanty, general manager (WATCO - Cuttack division), claimed that the quality of water is being regularly monitored through sample testing at different locations such as raw water sources, water treatment plants (WTPs), intermediate storage reservoir, and at consumer-end by third party laboratory everyday as per schedule. However, the claim was not supported by documentary proof relating to sample testing in the laboratory on day-to-day basis.
Accordingly, the division bench of Justice SK Sahoo and Justice Chittaranjan Dash directed WATCO to provide details of deployed field staff/Jalasathis in different zones, the method of collection of water for testing purpose, maintenance of record on day-to-day basis and the testing reports of the laboratory zonewise along with the verification report of the health wing of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC).
In the affidavit, WATCO, which is responsible for providing drinking water to the residents, stated that supply to the CMC area is being made from three WTPs situated at CDA, Pratap Nagari and Jagatpur having 129, 8 and 6 MLD capacity respectively. Besides, there are 3,094 hand pump tube wells. The number of piped water supply house connections is 93,046.
The WATCO stated that 59 wards of Cuttack city have been divided into 55 zones and at present, water supply to 70 per cent area is being treated through the WTPs. For the rest 30 per cent area, steps are being taken for establishment and commissioning of WTPs, the affidavit stated.
Taking it on record, the bench said, “Everyone deserves to have clean and pure water for staying healthy. It is the basic human right. A constant supply of clean drinking water is vital for every household. The authorities, who are in charge of supply of clean, pure, hygienic, and safe water to public should be vigilant and understand their responsibility.” The bench fixed August 28 for further hearing on the matter and directed the WATCO GM to appear before the court through virtual mode.