300-yr-old Kangra water source declared non-potable

February 17, 2023

A nearly 300-year-old natural drinking water source situated in the heart of Palampur town in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district has been declared non-potable after its samples were found “highly contaminated” during chemical examination.
The testing at the source, called ‘Dohroo Ki Babli’, was done after pungent smell was reported in water by the residents, around 1,000 of whom were dependant on it for drinking and other needs.
IPH Dept officials fear sewage seepage into the water source from septic tanks of houses
It is said the source withstood the worst of summers and even the 1905 Kangra earthquake that had claimed more than 20,000 lives.
- Before 1960, it was the sole water source for Palampur town and the residents would earnestly maintain it.