Contaminated water taking toll on Dharan folks

DHARAN: Contaminated water has taken a toll on Dharan folks.

Locals here have been suffering from various diseases like typhoid and diarrhoea among others.

A recent report made public by a monitoring team from Environment and Tourism Development Centre, Dharan has revealed that the Dharan Drinking Water Corporation was negligent about supplying clean water to consumers.

According to Anand Shrestha, chairman of the Centre, the entire population of Dharan has been exposed to threat of contracting water-borne diseases due to the drinking water office’s carelessness.

During the monitoring, the team found that the drinking water office was not using filter and there were no technicians, said Shrestha, adding, the management too was very poor.

Daily wage earners and people with low income have been hit the most due to contaminated water.

According to BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, patients of diarrhoea, typhoid, fever and common cold were on the rise in recent days.

Local clinics are also are crowded with patients.

According to Hari Bastola of Hitaisi Pharmacy, people usually visit his clinic complaining of fever, typhoid and diarrhoea.

According to Kumar Karki, a local, mostly the people of Barun Tole, Falkland Tapu, Lalit Tole, Gairigaun and Ghumti Tole have been affected.

More than 10 police personnel at ward police station Dharan have also been affected.

According to Khagendra Prasad Khatiwada, acting chief, Dharan Municipality, the drinking water corporation was not performing up to the mark despite several rounds of talks

with the corporation representatives regarding supply of clean drinking water. The corporation is playing with general’s public’s health, he said.

He added that the board meeting of the municipality has decided to set up a drinking water management fund for sustainable development of drinking water project in the area.

However, Prajengdradas Hada, chief, Dharan Drinking Water Corporation, claimed that the corporation has been purifying the drinking water every day before distributing it to locals. “Some have been drinking water from their private taps, which is not safe,” he added.

With the onset of monsoon, folks are at more risk of contracting water-borne diseases and are concerned about their health.

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