Bhopal gas tragedy survivors allege sewage-contaminated water supply in colonies

Bhopal, July 31 (AHN) Four organisations representing survivors of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy on Friday alleged that sewage-contaminated drinking water is being supplied to several colonies around the abandoned Union Carbide factory and blamed the lack of basic civic infrastructure for the problem.

Addressing a press conference here, the organisations released a report claiming that 43 of the 63 drinking water samples collected from taps in 30 colonies this month tested positive for faecal coliform, indicating sewage contamination.

Nawab Khan, president of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha, said the survey pointed to a serious public health issue.

“We tested 63 water samples from taps in 30 communities this month, and the presence of faecal coliform was confirmed in 43 samples. There is clear evidence that drinking water supplied to 19 out of 30 communities is contaminated with faeces,” Khan said.

He claimed that 90 per cent of samples from areas supplied with water from the Upper Lake tested positive for contamination, while 25 per cent of samples from areas receiving water from the Kolar Dam source also failed the test.

The organisations alleged that the absence of underground sewerage lines and proper drainage has resulted in sewage mixing with drinking water pipelines, exposing residents to water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea, vomiting and typhoid.

They said the Supreme Court had directed authorities in 2004 to provide piped drinking water to residents after groundwater around the abandoned Union Carbide factory was found contaminated with toxic chemicals.

They further claimed that in 2018, the apex court directed the Bhopal Municipal Corporation to lay sewerage lines and improve drainage in the area following complaints of faecal contamination in piped water.

According to the organisations, the civic body had assured the Supreme Court that the work would be completed within three months, but the project remains pending even after eight years.

“We demand time-bound implementation of the sewerage and drainage project and an independent system to regularly monitor drinking water quality. People should not have to suffer because of the failure to provide basic civic amenities,” said Rachna Dhingra of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action.

The organisations urged the state government and the Bhopal Municipal Corporation to complete the sewerage and drainage network and ensure safe drinking water in the affected colonies.