Jamshedpur, February 19: Jamshedpur East MLA Saryu Roy wrote a letter to the Secretary of the Water Resources Department demanding release of water in the Subarnarekha river so that dirty water does not accumulate.
The MLA said that Moharda drinking water supply project is based on the water of Subarnarekha river and the demand of drinking water under project is increasing. However, there is continuous decrease in the water flow under the Chandil Dam in Subarnarekha river.
“The water flow of Chandil Dam is used not only for drinking water but also for industrial use. Many industrial units of East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan district are based on the water of Subarnarekha river. In May last year due to reduced water flow in the Subarnarekha river and contamination from the drains of Jamshedpur and Mango below the confluence (Domuhani) of Kharkai and Subarnarekha,” the letter states.
“ Due to sewage flowing into the river, the quantity of polluted water in the lower areas of Subarnarekha river had increased considerably. Due to the decrease in the flow of water from the place where the water of Subarnarekha is drawn for Moharda drinking water supply, there was stagnation in the flow, due to which small insects appeared in the area where water is drawn from the river for Moharda water supply. These insects were reaching the homes of the consumers through the Moharda drinking water scheme,” the letter alleges.
On the advice of the experts of the Geological Survey of India and the demand of the MLA, the water flow was done by the department. Due to which the sewage and insects were washed away from the river.
The letter reminded that according to the National Water Policy-2002 and 1987, drinking water is the first priority for the use of water reservoirs built on rivers. In such a situation, water flow is necessary to maintain the decreasing water level of the rivers.