MALU KERNI
With mercury rising day by day, the commuters are suffering as most of the water cooler machines installed in the city are lying defunct due to lack of maintenance by the concerned authorities.
Most of the drinking water coolers installed by the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) at various locations in the city are either defunct and few who are in working condition, have not been cleaned for months together and people are forced to drink water from them.
The JMC has installed 316 coolers in the city. Though the civic body had recently begun the repair work of these coolers, many of them still are not suitable for use. Most of these water coolers were installed after the MC elections in 2005 by the elected councilors but after installation no steps were taken for the maintenance of these machines due to which most of them are now not in working condition.
There are 71 wards in Jammu and each former corporator had installed two to three water coolers in his respective ward but these coolers have not been maintained for long and are down with technical faults like non-working compressors and broken cooling chambers.
Moreover, the residents also claim that in most of the markets and on busy roads we do not have proper drinking water facilities in the city. Lack of cold drinking water facilities in the city is creating problems for the people, especially for the commuters and daily wage workers, who are left with no other option than to buy water bottles to quench their thirst.
“The cooler in our area worked for few months and one day when its transformer got damaged it stopped functioning. Its almost 6-8 months now and no JMC official has turned up to have a look at it and take necessary steps to maintain the same,” said Praveen Sharma, a resident of Purani Mandi.
“A large number of water coolers dispense unclean water thus defeating the very purpose for which these were meant for. The mercury is rising with each passing day and many times I have seen commuters looking for water cooler machines but their hope vanishes as most of these coolers are defunct and thus fail to serve the purpose. The mercury has already touched 38 degree mark and most of the water coolers are lying defunct. The civic body should take steps to repair these facilities so that we don’t have to buy water to quench our thirst. If they cannot maintain these coolers than what is the purpose of installing these water coolers?,” said Ragini Sharma, a university student.
“In most parts of the city, water coolers are in very bad condition. Stagnant water and garbage lying beside them makes for a repulsive sight for commuters. The cooler in our area is working but it is sad that its tank was never cleaned thereafter, thus making the water undrinkable. We have complained many times in this regard but no action has been taken by the concerned authorities,” said Pritam Katoch, a resident of Parade.
It is high time that the concerned authorities should pay attention towards this and do the needful so that commuters can get little relief in this scorching weather.
