Siang water unfit for consumption: Report

Itagar, Dec 7: The State Water Quality Testing Laboratory in its report has confirmed that the water of Siang River is unfit for human consumption.

The laboratory under the state Public Health Engineering and Water Supply (Sanitation) department in its report stated that the nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU) of the water sample is 482 while iron content in the water has been recorded at 1.65 mg/litre, which is beyond the permissible limit.

The sample of the water has been sent to the laboratory by Water Resources Department executive engineer Tamo Jamoh on November 29, an official report said.

Experts said that at normal level, iron is not harmful to any aquatic animals but high amount of iron in water might lead to adverse changes in colour, odour and taste of water, which affects the aquatic populations.

State Chief Minister Pema Khandu had already drawn the attention of the Centre to the contamition of water in Siang that might have been caused due to activities on the Chinese side and asked New Delhi to take up the matter with Beijing.

Lok Sabha member Ninong Ering had last month written a letter to Prime Minister rendra Modi in this regard; noting that the water of the river is changing its colour.

In his letter, Ering also pointed out that there were reports of Chi constructing a 600-km tunnel to divert Siang water to the Taklamakan desert through Xinjiang province, even though the neighbouring country had denied any such development.

Although Chi has denied it, the matter remains an area of concern for India, the Congress MP from Aruchal East Parliamentary constituency said in that letter.

“It has been two months since the Siang turned black and contamited. It is an unusual phenomenon. The reason for the river getting dirty is unknown. I have already put up questions for discussions in Parliament under rule 377. But since the House is not in session, I am requesting you to use your good office to seek the reason for the river turning muddy in this season, when the water is usually crystal clear,” Ering wrote to Modi.