Troubled waters hit Delhi's belly

History has repeated itself. Delhi might be short on water supply in Summer 2003, but it is certainly not short on water-borne diseases.
Hospitals across the city have already recorded 10 cases of cholera and around 60 cases of jaundice, apart from instances of typhoid, diarrhoea and numerous cases of gastroenteritis.
According to Ashutosh Shukla, internal medicine specialist at Max Healthcare, ‘‘While cases of gastroenteritis, cholera and jaundice are common enough in summer, the sudden spurt in the incidence of typhoid is cause for concern.Over the past month alone, I have treated atleast 10 cases of typhoid.’’
‘‘Water-borne diseases, specially gastro-related disorders, are definitely on the rise,’’ says SCL Gupta, former president of the Delhi Medical Association, ‘‘At the same time, what is heartening is that patients have started seeking medical advice before severe dehydration sets in.’’
Incidentally, a large chunk of the jaundice cases reported this season stem from the Uttam Nagar area. ‘‘A large number of jaundice cases have resulted from people depending on water from sources other than the DJB. As a precautionary measure, we are distributing chlorine tablets in various areas,’’ says a senior official of the MCD’s health department.
Officially-speaking, everything is sip-shape. But not if one were to ask the medical men. ‘‘Be it cholera or gastroenteritis, contaminated water is the source,’’ says HS Kukreja, a practising physician, ‘‘Even chlorinated water can be source of disease if it is supplied through corroded or leaking pipes.’’
Not too long ago, when all other excuses failed to hold water, the DJB’s excuse was: blame it on corroded pipes. The season has changed and so has the reason. Chlorinators are now the subject of speculation. With a sizable proportion of chlorinators defunct, Delhi is a sip away from cholera and gastroenteritis.
But this hasn’t prevented officialdom from engaging in a blame game. While the MCD accuses the DJB of ‘‘not rectifying the defunct chlorinators and, thereby, forcing Delhiites to drink impure water,’’ the DJB charges the civic body with ‘‘not supplying an adequate number of chlorine tablets across the city.’’
The message is clear: contamination might not begin there, but it is certainly delivered at home. Delhi will have to clean up its act — and water —sooner than later.
divyavasisht@indiatimes.com