20-day 'Clean Water' drive will tap on citizens' plaints

MUMBAI: The BMC will initiate a special drive targeting household taps that regularly receive yellowish-brown, brackish water from the civic supply network.
The 20-day campaign-aimed at zeroing in on the source of the problem as well as creating awareness among citizens to promptly register cases of contamination with the local councilor or ward officer-begins on April 25.
Based on the complaints and its own field surveys, a team of civic staff, local plumbers and contractors, will enlist such households and prepare a database. Pipeline networks where leakages have been detected will also be added to the list. "We will deal with the cases on a priority basis to nip the problem in the bud," an official said.
The identified water woes will be addressed on a war footing before the water from drains or sewage lines could enter the leaking network, said officials.
"This is a one-of-its-kind effort by the corporation and we urge citizens to come out in large numbers and report cases of contamination to help us address it as soon as possible. This will ensure that Mumbaikars receive clean water in their houses," standing committee chairman Rahul Shewale said.
Some of the other measures to be undertaken for the exercise would include supplying additional water to "dry" areas. "We also want to tackle the problem of intermittent supply. Maintaining adequate pressure inside the pipeline is also on our agenda. Empty pipelines invariably increase the risk of contamination as it makes it easier for dirty water to seep in," said an official from the civic hydraulic department. "During the drive, we will also provide an alternative outlet for supply network
where the problem is chronic," he added. The special measures have been announced following a deluge of plaints about dirty water flowing out of taps from across the city and the fear that such incidents could only rise during the monsoon.Earlier this month, a 30-year-old woman died in Bandra (E) after allegedly drinking contaminated water. The incident sparked protests and agitation across city. While at some places, corporators sat on a hunger strike, in Kurla and parts of the Eastern suburbs, the protests took an ugly turn when agitators attacked civic staff.