BENGALURU: Residents of BTM Layout have been getting contaminated water in their homes since Friday as the drinking water from the municipal corporation pipe was mixed with sewage water. Some residents have fallen sick too, and they believe it is because of consuming contaminated water.
According to Syed Ahmed, a resident of 7th cross, BTM Layout stage-II, on Friday morning, most houses in the 5th cross to 10th cross started receiving slightly coloured water. Ahmed said, “On Sunday morning, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) officials removed my water meter to check the water. The colour of the water was dark black - that was the extent of contamination. There were also some worms in it. For the past few days, me and several other residents in the area are depending on water tankers.”
Resident of 5th cross B Arun’s children have fallen sick after consuming the contaminated water. Water appears to be contaminated even in other parts of BTM Layout.Muniyamma, a resident of 17th cross, fell sick on Saturday. Her husband Venkatappa said, “Even the doctor told us that the symptoms indicated a water-borne disease. Similar water was supplied a month ago as well.” Another resident Bharathi found sand-like particles in the water.
BWSSB Assistant Engineer of the area Hari H P confirmed that a pipeline had cracked, because of which the water from the drains are getting mixed with drinking water. He said, “Our workers have checked water meters at houses. We have also been working to rectify the pipelines. They will work tomorrow too.”However, Hari was not sure about when the residents could start getting clean water. He said they had to carry out repairs and keep checking water supply, and hence rectify the problem on a trial-and-error basis.