Turbid water: BMC got 600 plaints in 2 months………Sukhada Tatke
MUMBAI: That contamination of tap water in Mumbai has jumped two-fold in the last year, as shown by the State Public Health Laboratory in Pune, is not surprising. Even as the parched city is going through the worst crisis in decades, residents of several areas have been complaining to the BMC about the dirty water they are getting.
The city recorded over 1,500 cases of water contamination between June and December last year. In January and February alone, the civic body received more than 600 complaints. The worst-hit areas include Worli, Byculla, Marine Lines, Dockyard Road, Bandra and Dahisar.
Several housing societies are getting turbid, often putrid water in their taps. “For the last four days, we have been getting dirty water. We can’t stand the smell of it. Imagine taking a bath with the same water. We have been purchasing mineral water over the past few days for cooking and drinking,’’ said Samuel Daniel, a resident of Sardar Nagar, Koliwada.
Early this month, several residents of Panchsheel Housing Society in Worli were down with jaundice. “The society had been getting contaminated water supply for over a month which resulted in major health hazards for the residents. Many from the area contracted jaundice with some being admitted to hospitals for treatment,” a resident said.
This worrying trend has got officials in a tizzy. According to the hydraulic department, although the problem comes to the fore during the monsoon, the rising number of jaundice cases is something that can’t be ignored.
Officials said contamination occurs because of eroded pipes and the rise of surcharge level in stormwater drains and sewerage lines. “We address the complaints as soon as they are made. Currently, the problem has increased because of the water scarcity,’’ said V Deshpande, hydraulic engineer.