STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup (M) and Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Pallav Gopal Jha on Thursday announced that two recent orders issued by him, which placed restrictions on the extraction of groundwater in the district, are being kept in abeyance for the time being.
Jha informed the media that the decision has been taken in "cognizance of public requests about seeking greater clarity on the matter of permission etc., and for larger consultations on the issue."
GMC Commissioner Devashish Sharma, who was present at the press conference, said that the restrictions were imposed recently on the extraction of groundwater to protect natural water sources. However, because groundwater levels have dipped as usual during this season and led to a scarcity of water for domestic use, sections of the public have complained that they are being compelled to buy water from suppliers at inflated prices. Therefore, keeping public interest in view, it has been decided to suspend the restrictions on groundwater extraction, for the time being, he said.
Sharma admitted that the GMC can supply water to just 25 per cent of the households in the city. As such, it has been decided to repair the three water treatment plants under the GMC and an amount of Rs 10 crore has been sought from the State Government for this purpose.
He said that the GMC earlier had three water tankers, but now another 15 tankers have been procured.
The GMC Commissioner expressed the hope that water could be supplied to some more areas of the city by August-September. After some years, the entire water supply system would be handed over to the Jal Board, Sharma said.
It may be mentioned that vide an order issued on March 10, the Deputy Commissioner had prohibited "all types of extraction of groundwater in any form under the jurisdiction of the Kamrup Metropolitan District without proper permission from the Central Ground Water Board."
However, the next day the Deputy Commissioner issued another order, whereby the earlier order was modified. The modified order allowed extraction of groundwater, strictly for non-commercial use, by individual consumers in both rural and urban areas. Armed forces' establishments and Central Armed Police Forces' establishments were also exempted by the modified order.
Also watch: