NT Reporter
Panaji
In a major move to regulate the supply of potable water through private tankers, the Department of Drinking Water (DDW) has made registration mandatory for all water tankers supplying drinking water in the state.
A notification issued by Chief Engineer, DDW, V J Bhende states that tanker operators will now have to register online with the department and comply with a series of technical and quality-control measures aimed at ensuring safe drinking water supply to the public.
The notification states that every tanker supplying potable water must have stainless steel internal linings certified by the Directorate of Transport. The tanker body must be painted blue and display a QR code generated by the DDW containing details of registration, water quality tests and other relevant information.
Tanker owners will be required to pay a one-time non-refundable registration fee of Rs 5,000 and an annual renewal fee of Rs 3,000 before the end of every financial year.
In addition, tankers must be calibrated and stamped by the Department of Legal Metrology before the issuance of registration certificates and re-verified annually thereafter.
The department has also made GPS tracking devices mandatory for all registered tankers to facilitate monitoring. The notification warns that any tanker found indulging in malpractice will be de-registered and barred from re-registration for at least one year.
The DDW will conduct regular water quality tests at least once every month. Tanker operators will have to pay Rs 10,000 annually towards water quality testing charges. The government has further stated that tanker operators supplying drinking water without registration will face prosecution under relevant provisions of law.
