Pics: Franklin D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (FD/JD)

Udupi, Apr 11: The underground drainage issues in the Udupi city municipality area seem never-ending. In a recent development in Venkatarama layout of Karamballi ward, residents are struggling with polluted well water and non-availability of municipality water supply.

About two years ago, residents noticed a change in the taste of their well water and discovered that drainage water had contaminated it. As the drainage system was 14-16 years old, residents asked the ward councilor for repairs. After two years, the repairs began, but the Udupi CMC also started laying a new drainage system, which worsened the situation. Within a few weeks of the new drainage system's operation, all the local well water became contaminated and unfit for drinking or other activities.

Almost 15 households suffer without a reliable water source, and children have fallen ill due to drinking polluted water. Despite several well cleaning attempts, the water remains contaminated with chemicals and medical waste from a nearby hospital that adds to the residents' misery.

Savita, a resident speaking with daijiworld.com, said, "The locality has been facing many problems for years. The councilor is neglecting us, and we do not expect this from him. The old drainage is still open, and the new drainage is leaking and polluting our wells. No officials are visiting the spot, and both children and adults face many health issues. We have invested crores of rupees in this place and still do not have basic necessities. There is no permission for the new drainage system, and they have dug four pits on the road without any approval, causing inconvenience. We need a permanent solution; otherwise, we will bring excavators and destroy it. We clean our wells every month, but chemicals added to water are just resulting in health issues."

Every household in Venkatramana layout suffers from this issue. Recently, a child fell ill in the early morning and was suffering from continuous vomiting and other illnesses. The mother of the child told daijiworld, "We took the child to the hospital early in the morning, but no medication gave any relief. After a few days of suffering and continuous medication, he is now recovering. We built this house two years ago, and it was a happy moment for our family when we got good water in the newly dug well. But all the happiness is now shattered. No representative is hearing our pain. We had not opted for the CMC water supply connection due to the good well water source, but now we have taken a temporary CMC water connection, which is also not supplied continuously."

Most residents bring packaged drinking water for drinking purposes, but the available well water is not even fit for other activities. Residents sent water for testing to the Manipal Institute of Technology and the Department of Microbiology of Kasturba Medical College in Manipal, which revealed that the water is not satisfactory for use and requires proper disinfection. The presence of coliform bacteria and other substances exceeded the desirable limits.

Some houses' well water is filled with visible worms, and residents demand an immediate solution and urge the closure of the drainage system, as none of the houses’ drainage is connected to the new underground drainage.

Venkataramana layout residents have put up banners boycotting election campaigns in their area and have decided not to vote in the elections. Interestingly, the layout is located just a few minutes away from the Udupi MLA's residence in Karamballi!