In spite of the death of a patient and over 50 others suffering due to suspected cholera, sanitary conditions and drinking water quality continue to be in a very poor quality, the people of Muthampatti, a village in Salem district, complained to the Collector (incharge) Kalaiarasi on Monday.

The people alleged that the 30,000litre capacity water tank in their village has not been cleaned in the last 10 years and this caused the mass illness that stalked the village a month back. Lack of drainage and garbage clearance was adding to the woes, the people regretted.

Valapadi Panchayat Union’s Deputy BDO Madhaiyan however, blamed the people for breaching pipelines to illegally draw water. Such breaches were not sealed afterwards. This caused drainage water and other pollutants to mix with the drinking water, he said.

According to Muthampatty panchayat president Barathy Ganesan, the problem was confined to the Dalit colony and not the entire village. The water tank provided for the colony was thoroughly cleaned after the sickness spread last month and the water was chlorinated. All the illegal breaches have been sealed and two public taps have been provided.However, officials admitted the tank was too old and the interior lining was withering. TWAD Board has proposed to construct two new tanks. With the highway expansion under way, the proposal was under wraps.

Despite the explanation the Collector asked the officials to conduct a fresh assessment of the drinking water situation and the sanitary conditions in the village.

SOURCE: expressbuzz