Sewage-tainted water sickens 45 in Pottery Town
 |
Water comes to Pottery Town every alternate day if residents are lucky. |
By Uzmi Athar
BANGALORE (Feb. 7)—Forty-five cases of jaundice, gastroenteritis and typhoid were reported among the residents of Pottery Town at a clinic between early November and the end of January after drinking water that became contaminated with sewage.
Dr. Maqsood Ahmed, doctor at Modern Clinic, Pottery Town said: “Forty five cases of jaundice, gastroenteritis and typhoid have been registered in my clinic. We have complained to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) many times, but nothing happened.”
“I refer most of the patients to government hospitals as with few facilities, I cannot treat all of them,” Dr. Ahmed said.
“Radha had typhoid two months back. We complained about the quality of water several times but in vain,” said Sita, resident and mother of 2-year-old Radha.
Pottery town is situated near Shivaji Nagar Bus Station and has been facing this problem for the past three months.
 |
Radha (in yellow top) got typhoid after drinking water from the tap. |
Abdul Rasheed, a potter, said Pottery Town gets water only on alternate days while the surrounding area of Sadashivnagar enjoys a steady supply of water.
To overcome the problem, the shopkeepers and residents had paid Rs. 4,000 to BWSSB to dig borewells.
The problem arose as when the borewells hit the sewage pipe, which led to the mixing of water and sewage and in turn the diseases.
“The water that comes through the tap is dirty and makes us sick,” said Maya, a local resident.
The corporators of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the BWSSB, when approached, pointed the finger at each other.
“The sanitation pipes burst near Pottery Town and I checked it myself. I complained several times to BWSSB but no action has been taken,” said Sridhar, area BBMP corporator. “BWSSB said they don’t have funds to fix the pipes.”
While BWSSB is happy to dole advice on long-term solutions to water-related problems, it barely takes responsibility for the present situation.
M.N. Thippeswamy, chief engineer at the BWSSB, said, “People should install filters in their home—that should prevent diseases.”
Pottery Town has been involved in several controversies after its 30-year commercial lease expired in 2007, and the people living there believe the state government is creating water-supply problems as a way of forcing them out of the area.
|
