CANACONA
The Directorate of Health Services (DHS) has confirmed that samples tested from five different PWD water sources in Agonda have revealed that water is unfit for consumption.
Congress leader Janardhan Bhandari has now claimed that his complaint has been vindicated and has accused the police of dilly-dallying on his complaint to register an FIR against the PWD (Water-Supply) officers.
Water samples collected from five different sites, which the PWD uses to supply water to people of Agonda and Khola were analysed by the DHS Environmental And Pollution Control Wing. The analysis was conducted after health authorities acted on directives from Canacona police to test the waters samples, in connection with a complaint lodged by Bhandari against the PWD for supplying contaminated water.
Samples were taken from the Water Storage Cement Tank at Parvem-Betul (Agonda), Water Filtration Tank at Parvem-Betul (Agonda), Mudkud Hill Top Water Plant Tank Agonda, Shelop Water Plant Khola and Paryekhatta“Matvemol Water Plant at Khola.
The DHS Environmental And Pollution Control Wing confirmed that water samples the Water Storage Cement Tank at Parvem-Betul (Agonda) and Water Filtration Tank at Parvem-Betul (Agonda) did not conform to standards prescribed for drinking water and could not be recommended for human.
The DHS also stated that samples from the Shelop Water Plant at Khola, Paryekhatta“Matvemol Water Plant at Khola and Mudkud Hill Top Water Plant Tank Agonda confirmed to the limits prescribed for drinking water. The water could be recommended for human consumption after assessing its bacteriological purity.
However, the bacteriological examination report in all five samples confirmed that the water was found contaminated by Coliform Organisms and could not be recommended for human consumption.
Addressing a news conference in Canacona, Bhandari said he and a team had physically inspecting the Water Storage Cement Tank, Water Filtration Tank at Parvem-Betul, and Mudkud Hill Top Water Plant Tank at Agonda in May, before accusing the PWD (water-supply) engineers of supplying highly contaminated, untreated and toxic water to the people of Agonda and surrounding areas.
Claiming there had been no action from the PWD, Bhandari then filed a police complaint against 3 PWD Officers accusing them of supplying contaminated, untreated and toxic water through public taps to Agonda and surrounding areas. As part of its investigation, Canacona police had sought water samples from different sites.
According to sources, police received the results of the water samples in the first week of July, prompting Bhandari to accused the police of failing to act on the test reports.
“Even at the end of July, Canacona police informed me that my complaint is still ‘under enquiry’ and not even a FIR has been registered as yet,” claimed Bhandari.
Bhandari told reporters that he obtained reports of the water samples through an RTI application.
“These results have indicated very serious concerns, which needed most immediate action by the PWD (water-supply) to ensure the supply only non-contaminated, hygienic, treated/filtered and safe water for human consumption water to the people of Agonda and surrounding areas.
