Contaminated water being supplied in Chhawni Mohalla

Open drains are leading to the insanitary conditions in Chhawni Mohalla, a part of the old city. The damaged water pipes are also one of the reasons behind contaminated water supply to the area residents, who suffer from health problems.

Though the facility of underground sewerage system is available in the area but the old open drains have not been closed. It has been learnt that the dirty water from the open drains is released directly into the Buddha Nullah, which is a violation of norms. The government has already directed the municipal corporation (MC) to close the 16 major points including the point from which the dirty water of Chawwni Mohalla is released into Buddha Nullah.

Foul smell that emanates from the open drains is also a nuisance in the area. Water stagnation is a common sight here during rainy season.

The residents near Chitta Gurdwara in Chawani Mohalla also complain about the contaminated water supply as the authorities concerned seem to have turned a blind eye towards this issue. The residents claimed that they can't afford to purchase water purifiers so they use boiled water for consumption.

The residents want the MC to send its team to listen to their problems and come up with a concrete solution. They said that sanitation is the big problem they have been facing, adding that the development is on back foot.

The residents also claimed that the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan campaign should be followed religiously in this area too but the MC had conducted such drives in already cleaned areas of the city.

Besides, the bunch of wires is another problem here. The residents claim sparkings are generally witnessed in the wires, posing threat to them. These wires pass over the homes in an improper way, allege the residents.

The councillor of ward 32, Anita Kharbanda said that the open drains will be covered soon as the project is under pipeline. She said that the open drains are also polluting the Buddha Nullah and these should be covered at the earliest.

"We have talked to MC authorities to improve the sanitation condition in the area. We will also take steps to redress the problem of contaminated water," the councillor said.