“For the last two months, the water has been absolutely muddy. Spoke to our area corporator Adbul Rauf who said he had brought it to the notice of the MCC Mayor during the recent MCC council meeting….apparently they have stopped purifying the water due to reasons best known to them…as a result, water is not just muddy, but acidic and unfit for use. There is water disruption at frequent intervals also especially in S.L.Mathias Road…every time we call, there is work going on somewhere..which is fine..but they say after repair initial water will be muddy but clears up later. There is something dreadfully wrong here. This water is unfit for cleaning…and everyone is bathing, cleaning and God forbid cooking with it too.! Are we cleaning ourselves or dirtying ourselves..? I understand with the very heavy rains and floods situation we had last month, the water in the rivers is turbulent and very muddy….But there has to be some filtration process at the main water supply! As a doctor, I’m concerned this kind of water will lead to gastroenteritis, cholera and water-borne diseases..which would be disastrous, to say the least! ( on top of COVID).”- Lady doctor, a resident in SL Mathias Road vicinity.
Mangaluru: If our beloved Mangaluru South constituency MLA Vedavyas Kamath is so much concerned and worried about people who are fed up in their lives and ready to commit suicide, that he is spending crores in fencing Nethravat bridge to prevent people from committing suicide from jumping off the bridge into the water-then he should also worry and concern about citizens, who want to live, that he should rectify the muddy and unhygienic MCC water issue, which is much dangerous to health than getting affected with Covid-19. This dirty, stinking water supplied by MCC from couple of months is adding to pandemic woes in Mangaluru. Despite MCC’s assurance, Mangalureans are forced to pause before they sip water every time. “Is the water safe?” The question continues to haunt them.
The water is so dirty that even water purifiers at home are being damaged as mud deposits block the filters, as per few residents who have complained to Team Mangalorean. While the spread of Covid-19 has left citizens worried, dirty drinking water being supplied to their homes from the plant in Thumbay has only added to their woes. The water is so dirty that even water purifiers at home are being damaged as mud deposits block the filters, say residents. Even though the Mayor Divakar Pandeshwar had promised to order an inquiry into the allegations that water is not being treated before being supplied to the city, until now there has been no positive results- and many residents in the City are still getting filthy water.
Muddy residue left behind on Water Filter of Retd SP Jayanth Shetty, a resident of Kadri Ward
A few weeks ago, retired superintendent of police Jayanth V Shetty, residing in the Kadri area had shared the picture of a water purifier filter covered with mud, mentioning they are consuming dirty water since the past few months. Speaking to Team Mangalorean, he said “I got a new water purifier installed in February. In these five months, I had to call the technician twice. Today the filter was full of mud and the water was not flowing through it. We got it replaced with a new filter. The technician was shocked to see the amount of dirt stuck on the filter. This is ridiculous when we pay taxes, MCC is totally careless and ignorant to such health-related issues when water is the main source of a family”.
In fact, the issue of MCC supplying untreated water to the city had triggered a debate in the first council meeting of the newly elected corporators held on 13 August 2020. Opposition leader in the MCC council Abdul Rauf had alleged that the city corporation has been supplying water without treating it properly. Rauf said corporators from the opposition have been discussing the issue since it concerns the health of the general public. “We have already brought the issue to the notice of the council. We will pursue the matter and visit the water treatment plants at Thumbe again. We are in constant touch with the officials of the city corporation,” he said.
Seen in Pic, Well Water (Left) and MCC Tap Water (Right) at Joe D’Souza’s House, Kadri Road
In fact, mayor Divakara had ordered an inquiry by MCC commissioner Dinesh Kumar on the complaints raised by the opposition. When contacted, the commissioner said that the city corporation has taken up the issue very seriously and is monitoring the water quality regularly. “We have been checking the pH value and the turbidity of water supplied to the city. We are also collecting water samples for analysis. We also have ensured sufficient stock of chemicals required for the treatment of water,” Dinesh Kumar had said- but unfortunately, residents in few areas of the City are still receiving muddy water.
Corporator Abdul Rauf raising his voice on polluted water issue during MCC Council Meeting on 13 Aug
A resident from S L Mathias Road vicinity in the City, who is a female doctor had sent a message to Team Mangalorean stating, “For the last two months, the water has been absolutely muddy. I spoke to our area corporator Adbul Rauf who said he had brought it to the notice of the MCC Mayor during the recent MCC council meeting….apparently they have stopped purifying the water due to reasons best known to them…as a result water is not just muddy, but acidic and unfit for use. There is water disruption at frequent intervals also especially in S.L. Mathias Road…every time we call, there is work going on somewhere..which is fine..but they say after repair initial water will be muddy but clears up later. There is something dreadfully wrong here. This water is unfit for cleaning…and everyone is bathing, cleaning and God forbid cooking with it too.! Are we cleaning ourselves or dirtying ourselves..? I understand with the very heavy rains and floods situation we had last month, the water in the rivers is turbulent and very muddy….But there has to be some filtration process at the main water supply! As a doctor, I’m concerned this kind of water will lead to gastroenteritis, cholera and water-borne diseases..which would be disastrous, to say the least! (on top of COVID)”.
Muddy residue left at the bottom of the bucket at the lady doctor’s house in S L Mathias Rd area
It’s surprising to note that MCC and the officials are still turning a blind eye to this safety hazard when water is considered to be the main source of life. The Supreme Court in one of its past judgement had reiterated that ‘the right to access clean drinking water is fundamental to life and there is a duty on the state under Article 21 to provide clean drinking water to its citizens but also to protect water sources from pollution and encroachment.’ The right to water is not enshrined in the Indian Constitution as an explicit Fundamental Right but this has been made possible because of a liberal and activist interpretation of the fundamental right to life by the Supreme Court as well as the High Courts of the country in the series of cases before them.
So, are we the citizens of the so-called ‘SMART CITY’ and one of the fastest-growing city of the state, getting safe and clean drinking water? Even if MCC commissioner or the Mayor says “Of course, Yes,”, and stating that the Mangaluru City Corporation takes all necessary steps to ensure that water is purified at different stages before it reaches the people,”-then why are many residents still getting untreated water. There are lab tests done by a few residents, and they are not happy with the results- and many are spending big bucks buying packaged water for their daily needs since MCC water is not potable in most of the wards and contaminated with deadly faecal Coliform. Looks like MCC is supplying poison to Mangalureans in the form of contaminated water!
Samples of MCC Polluted Water in Falnir/ S L Mathias Road Area
Seems like a Water War is going on, where the MCC officials claim that laboratory tests showed that 98% of the water supplied by the corporation is potable and free from contamination, while the opposition party members and residents complain that it’s not true! Corporator Rauf had asserted that he was not interested in politicising the issue but had raised the matter only in the interest of public welfare.”No political motives are involved in my allegation on the contamination of drinking water. I am voicing my protest in public welfare. MCC under BJP rule has failed in its duty,” said Rauf.
Water experts say that Chlorinating will not rid the water of its impurities. Use of excess chlorine in potable water has its own side effects. Others have a doubt that MCC is not regularly conducting water quality tests. The residents of the city have the right to get clean water. Therefore, it is the duty of the citizens to raise their voice and carry on with the fight for it until the city corporation supplies clean water to the people of Mangaluru. The water crisis of 2016 summer is unforgettable, this time the people are worried more about the quality of water rather than its quantity. (Ref:That’s Not Smart! MCC ignoring Open Drainage causing Diseases )
Given the situation in Mangaluru with its horrific open drains, ruptured pipelines, sewage water flowing in open drains producing unbearable stench and turning into a breeding ground for mosquitoes, pipelines caught in slush and debris, illegal tapping of water etc, it is but natural for the water to get contaminated as even a small rupture is enough to do the damage. As the issue rages on, there is no doubt that people are caught between weak regulation and low awareness. The helplessness is multiplied by the fact that even if one knows that water was unsafe, there is very little a citizen can do about it apart from complaining. Inadequate sanitation facilities, poor sewage management and a near absence of wastewater policy framework are primary reasons responsible for the contamination of water. (Ref: A Smelling City! Education Hub Mangaluru turns out to be an ‘Open Drainage Hub’? )
A water expert speaking to Team Mangalorean said, “Total coliform bacteria are commonly found in the environment and are generally harmless. If only total coliform bacteria are detected in drinking water, the source is probably environmental, and faecal contamination is not likely. If environmental contamination can enter the system, however, that suggests there may be a way for pathogens to enter the system. Therefore it is important to determine the source and resolve the problem. Faecal coliform bacteria are a sub-group of the total coliform group. They are found in great quantities in the faeces of people and animals. The presence of faecal coliform in a drinking water sample often indicates recent faecal contamination — meaning that there is a greater risk that pathogens are present than if only total coliform bacteria are detected. E-coli is a sub-group of the faecal coliform group. Most E-coli are harmless and are also found in great quantities in the faeces of people and warm-blooded animals. Some strains, however, may cause illness. Some of these common waterborne illness symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting, headache, and cramps (acute gastrointestinal illness).
On the other hand, Open drainage in Mangaluru has been a cause of the perennial threat. To cite a few are the open drains near Bejai Road, Alake, near TMA Pai hall, and the one at Attavar, near KMC hospital among others. The unbearable stench emanating from these drains has made life difficult for residents of the vicinity. For instance, residents of Attavar have been complaining since long of the inconveniences caused due to the open drains which are stinking and are all likely to result in grave illnesses. The many horrifying stagnant gutters of a wide range are a source of misery for Mangalureans. (Ref: Not Coronavirus, Citizens May Soon Get ‘MaranaVirus’ from Bunch of Filthy Open Drains in Our ‘Smart City’?)
These gutters decades earlier used to carry stormwater to the sea and keep this seaside city free from flooding during rains and thus were of less harm. However, with the poor drainage in this growing city and the proliferation of population and high rises and flats galore, these do not have any proper underground drainage. The foul-smelling contaminated water in these choked gutters/drains pollutes the whole city atmosphere. Many unauthorized main and sub drains can be seen in various prominent parts of the city. No steps are taken to spray disinfectants or suitably cover exposed surfaces in residential populated localities. This is modern-day torture of citizens by the ’rulers,’ points out a senior citizen.
Yes, we the people of Mangaluru have a close bonding with River Netravathi. But have Mangalureans ever given a thought of how Netravathi river is polluted due to the mindless acts of a few? Has the Mangaluru City Corporation which asserts that it has been providing clean drinking water to the people of Mangaluru ever tried to visit Thumbay, investigate and have a look at the way the river is blatantly polluted? Signboards put up by the administration on the river banks advising people not to bathe in the river, wash utensils and clothes or bathe livestock have been of little help as the advice has been easily given a go by, in turn taking its toll on Netravathi. Many labourers residing along the river banks in utter disregard of the advice do all daily chores on the riverside. Worst of all, the sewage water from many villages surrounding Thumbay is blatantly released to the river. In another case of mindless pollution of the river, concrete mixers, JCB and other machinery are being washed right on the banks of the river Netravathi. After all who is to be blamed for this?
The use of water in hygiene is an important preventive measure but contaminated water is also an important cause of diarrhoea. Cholera and dysentery cause severe, sometimes life-threatening forms of diarrhoea. Water contaminated with human faeces for example from municipal sewage, septic tanks and latrines is of special concern. Animal faeces also contain microorganisms that can cause diarrhoea. Elected representatives in MCC must quit if they are unable to redress such a grave issue. This is a serious issue that would affect the health of thousands. The fight will continue until Mangalureans are entitled to clean water. What an irony that the lifeline of the district revered and worshipped is suffering in silence at the hands of her own people?
With growing urbanization and industrialization almost all cities of India face the growing challenge of providing clean and safe drinking water to all citizens. The fight against pollution must also become a people’s movement, as the administrations have been unable to control water pollution. Water quality is a serious concern. It is time the administration recognizes the enormity of this problem and take necessary actions. Every government or local administration should give foremost importance to provide safe drinking water even at the cost of other development programmes. Nothing should stand in its way whether it is lack of funds or other infrastructure, Ways and means have to be found out at all costs with utmost expediency instead of restricting action to mere lip service. With the city of Mangaluru having lakhs of tap water connections, the City Corporation has to swing into action and ensure quality water is supplied to the citizens and give a reassurance to them in this regard. Thank You!
