MCD: bacteria of fecal origin in Delhi water

New Delhi: The MCD health committee today wrote to Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit telling her that over 15 per cent of water samples tested during a study in the city were found contaminated and that the government and the civic body should join hands to combat the problem.

MCD Health Committee chief and BJP councillor V K Monga sent a letter to Dikshit saying that 126 of 747 water samples (over 16 per cent) tested were found to "contain high quantities of bacteria, which are usually of faecal origin."

The panel, which carried out testing of Delhi Jal Board water, had last week said it found that 18 per cent of the samples are contaminated. Asked about the difference in figure, Monga said "it was an ongoing study and more samples are being collected. These samples were taken till March 15".

He said the samples have been tested in an accredited laboratory and it is a public health problem. "There is no use of blame-game and we should jointly collect the samples to broaden the study and make the report public," the leader of BJP, which is in power in the civic body, said.

In the summer season, contaminated water can lead to spread of diseases like jaundice, typhoid and gastro-enteritis, he said adding, there is need to check water pipelines passing along sewers to prevent mixing of sewage and water, clean old pipes and repair them.

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"We should join hands to solve this problem on priority. I humbly request you to direct your departments to take remedial measures on a war-footing to save Delhiites from water-borne diseases," the letter by Monga said.

Dikshit had last week rejected the MCD report that 18 per cent of water supplied in the city is polluted and accused the BJP of "doing politics" over the issue. "If the report is correct, then most of the people in Delhi would have suffered from water-borne diseases," she had said.

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