Karnataka govt seals arsenic-contaminated borewells

Karnataka government has sealed some 100 borewells having arsenic content beyond permissible limits in Raichur and Yadgir districts, Rural Development and Panchyat Raj Minister H K Patil said today.

He said an estimated one lakh people risked serious health hazards in 63 villages -- 44 in Raichur and 19 in Yadgir -- because of the "poisonous water". Drinking water is now being supplied there through tankers.

Patil told reporters a committee, under the Chairmanship of the Right Livelihood Award winner H Sudarshan, has been constituted to study the problems arising out of the such borewells and recommend remedial measures.

The committee also comprised noted irrigation expert Arun Patil, Geologist R H Sahukar and Managing Director of Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited H G Shivananda Murthy, who is the convenor.

The committee is already touring the areas and has been asked to submit the report within ten days.

According to officials, there are 5875 villages in Karnataka affected by fluoride, Arsenic and Nitrate, besides other chemical contaminations.

The government has planned to provide the model 'Pure Drinking Water Unit', as installed in Gadag district, in all problematic villages. 1000 such units are planned to commissioned by January one next year.

Patil also said from August 15 this year, it will be mandatory for Gram Panchayats, Taluk Panchayats and Zilla Panchayats to hoist the national flag every day.

Meanwhile, the Minister also said that four officials of the Panchayat Raj Engineering Section have been placed under immediate suspension after an official enquiry committee prima facie found misappropriation of funds and irregularities in execution of the works on drinking water in Gulbarga district.

The case has been handed over to Lok Ayukta for a thorough probe.

The committee uncovered a "systematic fraud", which included payments to false contractors running into crores of rupees. It found payment of more than Rs four crore towards hundreds of false and fictitious bills for bogus works last March alone.