Home / Environment / Bhopal Water Tainted: Faecal Coliform Found Near Union Carbide
Bhopal Water Tainted: Faecal Coliform Found Near Union Carbide
31 Jul
Summary
- 70% of water samples near factory show faecal coliform contamination.
- Contaminated supply affects drinking water from Upper Lake and Kolar dam.
- Supreme Court ordered piped water supply eight years ago.
In Bhopal, a staggering 70% of drinking water samples collected from localities near the abandoned Union Carbide factory have tested positive for faecal coliform. Organizations representing gas survivors revealed this alarming contamination this month after testing 63 samples from 30 communities. The crisis affects supplies from both the Upper Lake and Kolar dam, with 90% and 25% of respective samples showing contamination.
Residents living in these affected areas are reportedly experiencing severe health issues, including diarrhea, vomiting, and typhoid. This situation echoes past issues and comes despite a 2004 Supreme Court order for piped drinking water to protect residents from groundwater contamination from the hazardous waste site. The current contamination of even the supplied water has raised urgent concerns.
Further compounding the issue, a 2018 Supreme Court directive for the Bhopal Municipal Corporation to lay sewage lines and ensure proper drainage has reportedly gone unaddressed for eight years. Survivors' groups are demanding accountability and timely implementation of essential infrastructure projects, alongside independent monitoring of drinking water quality.
