Water crisis worsening in the Malwa region of Punjab

MUKTSAR: Reverse Osmosis (RO) water treatment plants are lying non-functional in most parts of the Malwa region. 66 out of 501 RO water treatment plants in Bhatinda are found non-functional. Thus it is unfit for drinking. Fazlika has 18 out of 303 unfunctional and Ferozepur has 6 out of 221 unfunctional. In villages of Muktsar, 63 out of 237 RO water treatment plants installed by the state government with some private companies have been closed. The underground water in majority of villages in Malwa has the total dissolved solids(TDS) level higher than the limit prescribed. Water Supply and Sanitation Department is willing to invite tenders from social welfare groups to run these plants on no profit, no loss basis.