Imagine drain water in drinking water taps! Yes, stinking sewage-mixed water is tickling through hundreds of taps in Kasturabnagar off Mysore Road.
Residents have been getting contaminated water for 25 days and the BWSSB has been unable to rectify the leakage. As a result, they are forced to collect drinking water from a public tap half a km away.
“At first, we were shocked to see black-coloured water in the taps. It started stinking and then we suspected leakage. Though we complained to the BWSSB, they have failed to rectify the leakage,” Sushma, a resident, said.
Due to water contamination, residents, especially children, are falling ill. “A few days ago, my son suffered from dysentery,’’ said B Ramdas, a BMTC conductor living in one of the houses. He said BWSSB officials have not been able to plug the sewage leakage despite visiting the place four to five times.
Constrained
Mrs Ramdas said: “When we do not get water from public taps, we are forced to boil and use this water. Even if we bring water, it is not enough. Either we have to skip bathing or washing clothes, or are constrained to use contaminated water for washing, at least”.
She said, adding that she sent her children to a relative’s place for some days as it was difficult to manage.
Forced
Ms Jayamma, another resident, said due to the contamination, residents were forced to bring water from a public tap about half a km away. It was difficult to obtain water from there as they usually are pre-occupied with people regularly taking water from those taps, she added.
Testing
BWSSB Assistant Engineer Puttaswamy Gowda said the Board workers had been testing pipes and removing blocks. “Even today, we opened a water pipe joint near a drain, cleared it and have insulated with tar and plaster. On Monday, officials again treated one of the junction valves and assured that the problem is solved. We got a blocked drain cleaned by BBMP crew and have taken care of all points where a leakage is possible. We hope that water will be free of contamination from Tuesday,’’ he said.
