Passengers made to drink dirty water at bus stand

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 19

Hundreds of passengers/visitors to the city bus stand are being made to drink contaminated water as the water tanks used for storage have not been cleaned for the past many months. Unaware of the source of water, unsuspecting passengers have been drinking unclean water as the authorities are playing a mute spectator to this grave issue.

A visit by The Tribune team to the city bus stand found that all the three water storage tanks installed at the terrace of the bus stand have not been cleaned. While two water tanks were uncovered and dirt was settled at their bases, the third one had a heap of sludge gathered at the bottom. Moreover, water stagnation due to leakage on the terrace has caused seepage and dampness on the walls of the building.

Sources in the PRTC said the unclean water was being supplied for drinking purpose for the past several months. Though the matter is in the knowledge of the authorities concerned, they have not taken any corrective steps to ensure that passengers/visitors, PRTC staff and drivers and conductors get clean potable water. While a majority of the PRTC staff and workers are aware of contaminated water supply, it is the passengers who are at the receiving end as they are not aware that the water they are drinking is contaminated.

The sources said apart from the water tanks, stagnant water (due to leakage) around these tanks posed a threat of the spread of dengue and malaria. Moreover, overgrown weed (grass) can also be seen on the terrace of the bus stand building. Recently, two water coolers with RO system were installed at the bus stand but if they are not cleaned once every three months they would pose a health risk to passengers.

There is no use of supplying canal water to the bus stand as it is stored in one large water tank.

Parveen Kumar, general manager, PRTC, Bathinda, said, “The matter is not in my knowledge. I will get it checked and the water tanks will be cleaned on priority at the earliest.”