Villagers protest unfit drinking water, samples sent for testing

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, June 10

Residents of six villages of Kandwari area, 10 km from here, today lodged a protest over the contaminated drinking water being supplied to their area.

Reason unknown

The water tanks were cleaned last month and nothing was found in them. It is surprising from where the pieces of meat are coming in water tanks. — Sanjay Thakur, Executive Engineer, IPH Palampur

They claimed that the situation got worse yesterday as bones and uncooked meat was found in the water supplied. Hundreds of residents gathered near senior secondary schools of the villages and lodged a strong protest over the unfit water. They alleged that despite repeated complaints to the Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Department, no steps were initiated to streamline the water supply system.

Panchayat pardhan Ajit Dogra informed the police to avoid any untoward happening. A team headed by Palampur SHO Bhupinder Singh reached the spot and seized the pieces of meat and waste found in water. The SHO said samples of water were collected and sent to a forensic lab for testing. Further action would be taken once the reports are received.

Last month, over 200 persons were taken ill in these villages after consuming contaminated water. Most of them were admitted to the local hospitals and discharged later. The IPH Department had claimed that it had cleaned water tanks after the incident.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Thakur, Executive Engineer, IPH Palampur, said the water tanks were cleaned last month and nothing was found in them. He said it was surprising from where the pieces of meat were coming in water tanks. All water supply lines were opened at different points but nothing was found. His technical staff was still camping in these villages, he added.