Water pollution a local issue: Leaders

Mumbai: Corporators in Mumbai on Sunday said that water contamination is a local issue, which arises due to old pipelines but the BMC must repair or replace the same.

A BMC officer said, “BMC’s water quality has improved as compared to last two years. We have conducted repair and replacement work at some places. While, some pipelines have also been upgraded.”

The officer further added, “We have improved our testing laboratory with the help of NEERI which provides better testing results of water samples.”  

Another officer said that the BMC had decided to revamp the water supply system and laboratories in 2012-13 after there was a severe outbreak of water-borne diseases in C-ward.

The civic body also made efforts to convert the steel water pipelines to underground concrete water tunnels. A number of water pipelines, which lay close to sewage lines were removed and replaced with a single six or nine-inch pipeline.

A civic official said that the incidents of contamination levels could be further reduced when the water supply shifts to a 24x7 system.

Two sitting corporators of BMC, who had complaint about stinking and contaminated water in their wards, have accepted that BMC is providing good quality of water but contamination is a local issue.

BJP corporator from Oshiwara Yogiraj Dabhadkar has linked the issue of contaminated water to metro work. “The water line was accidentally cut due to the ongoing metro work in the areas which resulted in the supply of contaminated water. The MMRDA has assured us to complete their work and restore water supply by November 19.”

Abhijit Samant, BJP Corporator from Vile Parle said, “Last year, few areas in my ward were receiving polluted water. It was however resolved in next three-four months. It is a local issue. If sewage line and main drinking water line runs parallel, then there are high possibilities of water getting contaminated due to leakage or any other issue.”

Mr Samant welcomed Central government’s decision of giving an award to the BMC for supplying clean drinking water in the city. “Other cities might have failed to clean the water or may be their source itself could be dirty. But the BMC water level is always hygienic,” added Samant.

Asif Zakaria, Congress corporator from Bandra said, “Polluted water is the main problem in our area but the administration shirks its responsibility saying it’s a local issue.”