Need to fix water pipes to prevent Indore-like chaos | Lucknow News
Lucknow: The city is facing the risk of an outbreak of waterborne diseases as drinking water pipelines in several localities pass through drains. If these pipelines are damaged, there is a serious threat of drain water mixing with the drinking water supply.A TOI reality check, conducted in the wake of the Indore tragedy in which several people lost their lives after consuming contaminated water, found damaged pipelines at multiple locations across Chowk, Hazratganj, Kursi road, Meerbai Marg, Thakurganj and Gaughat.
In many localities, water supply lines run parallel to open sewage drains, significantly increasing the risk of sewage mixing with potable water. Broken and leaking pipelines were seen at several locations, while sewage overflow was common nearby.Residents in some areas have complained of foul smell and discolouration in tap water, but no comprehensive corrective action has been taken so far. Preeti Rastogi, a homemaker from Adilnagar on Kursi road, said yellow, foul-smelling water had been coming for over a week. “We had stopped using this water for drinking. However, the issue was resolved on Saturday after repeated complaints,” she said.At Rana Pratap Marg and Meerbai Marg, residents raised serious concerns over the city’s ageing water infrastructure and the lack of regular monitoring of pipelines passing through congested and old localities. Rajesh Verma, living near Meerabai Marg, said, “We pay taxes for basic services, yet we are forced to buy bottled water or depend on nearby bore-wells. The risk is higher for children and the elderly if contaminated water reaches homes.” Experts warned that such conditions make the water supply highly vulnerable to contamination, especially during pressure fluctuations or repair work, when polluted water can seep into drinking water lines.Public health specialist Prof Manish Manar of KGMU cautioned that continued neglect could lead to outbreaks of diarrhoea, jaundice, typhoid and other waterborne diseases, similar to recent incidents reported from Indore. He stressed the need for urgent repairs, separation of water and sewer lines, and large-scale water quality testing to avert a health crisis. He warned that timely intervention is critical to prevent a tragedy. Responding to the concerns, general manager, Jalkal, Kuldeep Singh said efforts are being made to replace vulnerable pipelines wherever possible under new projects. “We conduct periodic checks for leakages and repair them immediately. Residents can also lodge complaints if they find water quality compromised, and the issue will be resolved the same day,” he said.
