Entrepreneurs demand quality drinking water in Noida’s industrial areas

The Noida Entrepreneurs Association (NEA) has complained against the inadequate availability and poor quality of drinking water supplied to various industrial areas in Noida over the last one year. Industrialists said they have to buy drinking water from the market as the water supplied to their units is not fit for consumption.

NEA represents over 8,000 industrial units across Noida situated in sectors 1 to 11, 57 to 60, 63 to 67 and Phase 2 industrial area.

“We have been getting inadequate supply of water for over one year. Even the water that is supplied is substandard and not fit for human consumption. As a result, we have been buying drinking water from the market,” said Mohammad Irshad, vice president, NEA.

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In a letter to Rama Raman, chairman, Noida authority, the industries’ body has highlighted the plight of those associated with industries in Noida. “We demand action from the authorities. The Noida authority has been collecting crores of rupees every year on account of water supplied to the industries. But neither do we get sufficient water nor is the water supplied fit for drinking,” said Vipin Kumar Malhan, president, NEA.

A copy of the letter has also been marked to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), chief executive officer (CEO) of Noida authority, and the district magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar.

NEA members said the problem has been around for quite some time and there has been no help from the Noida authority.

“We have been raising this demand with senior officials of the water works department of Noida authority, but without any result. The issue has been highlighted at the Udyog Bandhu and NGT directives compliance meetings from time to time in the last one year, but there is no improvement,” said Irshad.

Taking note of the issue, Noida authority deputy CEO Saumya Srivastava said he summoned the officers concerned on Thursday to find an early solution to the problem.

“The officials informed me that there are some areas where water pipelines need to be relayed and some places where resurfacing is to be done to ensure proper supply. As for the quality of water supplied, the senior project engineer (water) has been directed to collect water samples from the affected areas and get them tested at independent labs. The test report will be submitted to me after a week and we will take suitable action at the earliest,” he said.