The Times of India 20.08.2012
Corporation to keep tab on drinking water quality in Kozhikode
KOZHIKODE: Finally, the corporation
authorities have taken steps to put in place a permanent mechanism to
check the quality of drinking water being supplied from Mananchira pond,
the main drinking water reservoir in the city. The civic body has
entrusted the senior health inspector of the area to ensure that only safe drinking water is supplied from the reservoir to various parts of the city.The senior health inspector assisted by two health inspectors will
conduct periodic checking of the water quality
. Mayor A K Premajam has
asked the health staff to chlorinate the water to ensure zero coliform
bacteria. The civic body has also urged the health staff to provide
bleaching powder to private parties fetching water directly from the
reservoir using tanker trucks. The health officials have been directed
to submit reports on the periodic water quality tests they conduct.The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of health officials
convened by the mayor on Monday. The civic body has three main water
sources within its limit — Neelichira, Mananchira and Thamarakulam.
Hotels and institutions in the city depend mainly on the water from
Mananchira reservoir.The corporation has been inviting the
wrath of people from all walks of life for the absence of a mechanism to
check the quality of drinking water supplied from the reservior.The opposition in the council demanded a permanent facility in the
corporation after an incident of untreated water supplied by private
parties in Ernakulam had been brought to the notice of the authorities.
The test conducted by the Centre for Water Resources Development and
Management (CWRDM) had also confirmed the presence of coliform bacteria
in the water sample taken from Mananchira pond.Deputy mayor P T Abdul
Latheef had in the council meeting held in April had mooted an idea of
entrusting the CWRDM to check water quality.”We will conduct
similar quality checks by taking water samples from Neelachira and
Thamarakkulam ponds also. We are also considering a project to set up a
permanent mechanism to test the quality of drinking water in the city in
the 2012-2013 People’s Plan,” said the mayor.
