RMD Minister inaugurates first Water Testing Lab of the State


by PRAKASH CHETTRI

Namchi: Mr. C. B. Karki, Minister for Rural Management and Development (RMD), on Monday inaugurated the first Water Testing Laboratory of Sikkim at SIRD, Karfectar, Jorethang, South Sikkim. He was chief guest of the inaugural function and also a valedictory function of the training programme on water quality analysis for the engineers of RMDD. Area MLA, Mr. Madan Cintury was guest of honour.

After inaugurating the laboratory, the Minister in his address said that the testing lab was among the important needs of the state and its establishment has fulfilled a long felt need of the state. He said the water from different sources of Sikkim is not 100% safe for drinking, adding, in physical and chemical test results of the water of some sources is satisfying but in bacteriological test it has been found that the water of our local sources is not safe for drinking. The trained engineers will now make the people of Sikkim aware in this matter, especially in the rural areas.

Stating that “this testing laboratory is of world class”, the Minister said that the training to the RMDD engineers of Sikkim was just a basic training in this field but if any individual engineer be willing to learn more then the Government will provide more advanced training. He requested the participating engineers of RMDD, especially the young engineers to upgrade themselves in their profession. Minister urged them to inculcate more information in their way of working and profession. Let this laboratory be functional, he said.

MLA Mr. Cintury iterated that the knowledge of safe drinking water has to reach the people of Sikkim, especially the rural people. He asked the engineers to fulfill their responsibility (Contd. in page 5)

source;sikkim reporter