Nagpur: A section of residents of Taramata Mandir locality, near Kadbi Chowk Road, have been receiving contaminated water for the past one year because of damaged pipelines.
On Friday, the residents led by Aam Aadmi Party gheraoed Ashi Nagar zone office and protested carrying vessels containing worm-infested stinking water. They demanded immediate solution to the drinking water crisis. The protesters alleged that they have been consuming highly contaminated water and that the NMC zonal authorities have been ignoring their health issues for over a year.
“The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has been supplying water mixed with sewage after an excavator damaged the pipeline a year ago,” claimed some residents. Over 50 houses have been receiving contaminated water, the residents alleged.
“Many residents, especially women and children, have fallen ill because of the contaminated water supply. They have contracted various diseases, including hepatitis, and had to be treated in hospitals,” claimed AAP leader Prabhat Agrawal. Falling sick due to waterborne diseases has become a routine for them, he alleged and added that complaints to the authorities failed to elicit any response.
Ashi Nagar zone assistant municipal commissioner Ganesh Rathore admitted that the residents were getting contaminated water and said water to this area is being supplied from Satranjipura zone. He, however, was quick to clarify that most of the connections were illegal and due to this pipelines were damaged at several places leading to contamination of water.
Rathore assured to take steps to address the issue and said he has already directed Orange City Water to look into the matter and take corrective steps early.