Potable water in the entire country is facing serious threat of contamination

Tawang

The overall scenario of potable water in the entire country is facing  serious threat of contamination from various sources.  This was informed by R.B Sinha, Jt. Secretary to Union Ministry of Agriculture in meeting of the department held at Tawang on Wednesday.

During the meeting, he stressed on the importance of schemes like PMKSY(Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana) and how the same would help in increasing agricultural productivity. He said that a proper District Irrigation Plan is to be formulated taking into consideration the forecast of Water Requirement in the coming years so as to increase efficiency and regulate proper distribution.

Sang Phuntsok Dy Commissioner of Tawang informed that the District Irrigation Plan is under preparation by NABCONs and is likely to be completed by coming month. He also placed before the Jt. Secretary, problems being faced by farmers due to  monkey and wild boar menace and how the same has compelled many  to abandon farming all together. He apprised that the  majority of population being Buddhist by religion, the killing of animals cannot be taken up in the area.

The Secretary assured to take up the matter with the Wild life Institute of India and said that necessary funding would be arranged for necessary action.

when apprised by DC about the increase in various diseases within the area  possibly due  to chemical contamination in water and also about the fragile topography of the region resulting into frequent landslides that has even taken up numerous lives and has caused shifting of various villages, the Jt.Secy said that the problems would  be flagged before the higher Authority in the Centre.

He also suggested that following into the steps of other states like Madhya Pradesh, where similar problems exists, construction of earthen check dams along with growing plants/trees in the same may be taken up.

Further, on being apprised by the HDO, Tawang  about the absence of fencing provision under MIDH  schemes,  Mr. Sinha assured that he would see to it that necessary amendments are made in the existing guidelines as per the requirement .