Faeces in Gotri drinking water

While the residents say they have been receiving contaminated water for the last one week and had informed the ward office the same day, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation is yet to detect the fault. Executive Engineer F Charpot denies having received complaints last week and says the VMC deployed its force there on Tuesday. Their job: To detect the spot where the problem has originated following mixing of sewage with potable water.

Charpot said the fault was probably caused by a corroded water pipeline. The VMC has sealed two points where there is a possibility of leakage in water pipelines, he added.

Distributing chlorine tablets hasn8217;t solved the purpose as residents received contaminated water on Wednesday afternoon. Water samples taken have revealed contamination, says in-charge additional city engineer B S Trapasia.

The residents said the first water tankers came to the area on Wednesday. Word spread like wildfire as soon as the tanker entered the area, and a large number of women thronged to fill buckets and pots.

While houses in Jaldhara, Shreeji Park, Bhargav Society and Ravi Park have been spared the ordeal the Barots underwent, residents there have been affected nonetheless. There is the monetary loss through the cost of medication, but more worrying is the physical and mental discomfort.

Eighty-year-old Revaba Patel of Shreeji Park was one such resident. 8220;I haven8217;t gone to a clinic but am using home remedies,8221; she says. A visit to a doctor in a day costs nearly Rs 50 and various tests are carried out, informs Nanda Barot of Roshni Park.

According to another resident, Arpita Shah, an acquaintance called Vasant Chaudhary had been in hospital for the past week. 8220;For several minutes on end we receive contaminated water; even after the water clears, the foul smell continues8221;, she says. 8220;Those affected have been surviving at the mercy of their neighbours, who have borewell connections8221;.

Kalpesh Patel has been taking medicines for the past three days and Kanta Patel of Jaldhara Society says this is the first time that residents have received contaminated water other than during the monsoon.

As in Alkapuri, some people have been buying bottled mineral water. Chitra Iyengar, who purchased several bottles, says only a few people can afford the price and wonders what the others would do. At Sudamanagar water from a handpump has been contaminated, says Kalpana Parmar. The place is located near a storm water drain full of sewage and through which a water pipeline passes.

Former Mayor and local councillor Shabdsharan Brahmbhatt, who visited the place, says it was probably here that contamination occurred. 8220;The work is on to detect the fault,8221; he says, adding that he has asked the administration to deepen the drain so that the water pipeline and sewage are at different levels.