Civic bodies unaffected as Jadavpur continues to grapple with enteric

The water contamination followed by an acute enteric outbreak in Jadavpur 8212; which affected hundreds of people 8212; has failed to rouse the Kolkata Environment Improvement Project into taking preventive measures to check further contamination in the area.

The water contamination followed by an acute enteric outbreak in Jadavpur 8212; which affected hundreds of people 8212; has failed to rouse the Kolkata Environment Improvement Project KEIP into taking preventive measures to check further contamination in the area.

At present, KEIP 8212; the nodal agency of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation KMC 8212; is laying a drainage pipe beside a nullah that carries the liquid waste of the enteric-affected area. The entreric outbreak had originated after a breach in water pipe 8212; which occurred as the KEIP was at work laying water pipes.

Surprisingly, the agency seems not to have learnt from its mistake, and is not taking any precautions to protect the existing supply line from contamination. The work is being executed by contract labours, who are unaware of the risks of water contamination, and there is no supervision by any KEIP official or contractor.

8220;We are scared of using tapwater and are forced to buy mineral water for drinking purposes,8221; said Sanjeev Mondal, a resident of Ward number 101, one of the affected areas.

The civic authorities, too, seem to be taking the situation lightly.

Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya said: 8220;In reality, no precautions can be taken while carrying out the underground project work. We have discussed the issue with our engineers but no solution has emerged. Moreover, it is not always possible for the KMC or the KEIP officials to supervise the work of the contractors. At the most, we can only prepare our departments to act promptly, if any contamination is reported again.8221;

Although the KMC records say not more than 600 people have been affected by enteric diseases, the NGOs working in the area have claimed that the count has exceeded 800. Most of the patients have been sent to Beliaghata ID Hospital and Baghajatin State General Hospital, where some of them are still undergoing treatment.

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8220;We received many patients from the area. Some of them have been referred to the hospital by the KMC health camp and some came to us directly. Some patients, suffering from blood dysentery, were in typically bad condition, but they are recovering gradually,8221; said M Ghosh, principal, Beliaghata ID Hospital.

Adding to the woes of the people, the KMC also withdrew the health camp on Wednesday, even though the enteric-affected locals are still dependent on the camp.

8220;The condition has improved. So we have decided to remove the health camp,8221; said Chandana Ghosh Dastidar, the local councillor, by way of explanation. According to KMC records, no enteric-affected patient was registered on Tuesday.

A health official at the camp, however, confirmed that at least 20 patients came on Tuesday.