Sewage contamination in drinking water

Moosanagar residents are facing severe water woes. Not because it is in short supply, but because it is being contaminated. Residents are falling sick quite often as water from the sewers is getting mixed with the drinking water due to a leakage in the drainage system

The residents of Moosanagar in the Old City are a distraught lot. Mostly belonging to lower-middle class background, the residents are worried that their complaints are not heard. Armed with bottles of contaminated water, the locals have complained to the corporator and the Water Board officials but no action was taken. Iqbal, a resident in the area, says, “The water cannot be consumed. The stink is unbearable. The old water pipes need to be replaced immediately. Due to leakage in the pipes, dirty water from the sewer gets mixed with the water.”

There are about 800-900 families in Moosanagar. The residents claim to have complained to the local staff of Water Board but none of the officials visited the area.

Rahmat, a local, says that an official in turn blamed the locals for throwing garbage in the drains which led to clogging. The residents in their petition said that underground drinking water pipes are damaged and need immediate repair.

Many residents developed allergies and infections. Another local, Shakeela Begum said, “I have spent Rs 1,500 on medicines and have stopped using the water that is supplied. But I cannot keep spending money to buy water for long.”