Commissioner/Secretary, Ajeet Kumar Sahu inspected the under-construction water quality laboratory of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department in Kargil on January 15.

Sahu reviewed the progress of the laboratory construction and provided instructions for minor alterations to the project. The laboratory is being built under the Special Development Package (SDP) and will include biological and chemical testing facilities, which will be set up using Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) funds.

Sahu emphasized the importance of ensuring water quality and instructed officers to establish a national-level laboratory for water quality testing. In addition to the laboratory in Kargil, three more laboratories at the sub-divisional level are under construction, and a mobile laboratory is also in the final stages of procurement.

The UT Administration has applied for accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) for these labs and is expecting approval soon.

The water quality testing labs are an essential component of the Jal Jeevan Mission, and the UT Administration has taken steps to ensure that the labs are equipped with the necessary tools and that technical staff has received training from the Quality Council of India. Water samples from various sources and delivery points are tested twice a year for chemical and biological contamination, and the results are uploaded to an online MIS system for monitoring at various levels.

The UT Administration is committed to providing safe and clean water to all residents of Ladakh and will continue to take necessary steps to ensure that the water quality laboratory in Kargil and other labs in the district meet the highest standards.