New Delhi: Two died and over 50 people fell ill on Tuesday due to suspected water contamination in an underground reservoir in a South Delhi colony. The residents of the NCERT colony have been admitted to private hospitals after they complained of severe stomach infection.
The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has stopped water supply to the area for the moment after the incident. The Delhi Jal Board has instead sent four water tankers to the colony.
Residents of the NCERT colony has alleged that the reservoir was unclean and the covering had gaps. The civic agency will prepare a report in three days.
Education Minister Kiran Walia, after visiting the NCERT colony in Adhchini area, asked NCERT director to bear medical expenses of all affected persons admitted in a number of private hospitals. She also issued direction for supply of mineral water in the colony.
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who is also chairperson of Delhi Jal Board, assure people that water being supplied by the agency was "safe" and "totally fit" for drinking as it meets standards set by the World Health Organization and Bureau of Indian Standard.
She suggested that contamination may have taken place due to the internal water distribution system maintained by the NCERT. "The issue of so called contamination of water should not be politicised as the DJB has been ensuring quality and purity of drinking water at different levels," Dikshit, who is also chairperson of DJB, said.
She said DJB has been providing bulk supply of drinking water to the colony and the agency was not responsible for internal supply network. "The water supplied by the DJB is being stored in an underground reservoir. The internal supply in this colony is not the responsibility of DJB," she said.
A DJB official said the contamination may have taken place because of "problem" the internal water distribution system.
(With Additional Information From PTI)
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