Dharampuri: Poor quality of drinking water in model government girls hostel here is allegedly forcing hostel inmates to purchase packed drinking water from the market to quench their thirst.
Inmates claimed that the water available may land them in hospital. They said that at times the water stinks.
Currently, 50 girls from neigbouring villages are residing in the hostel. Initially inmates asked their parents to send water from their respective homes but as consumption increased during summers they were forced to purchase drinking water from the market.
Complaining about the availability of water here, Kiran, Sarika and many other girls said, “Besides an overhead tank, a 25-year-old hand pump was available at the hostel campus, but the water does not taste good and stinks.”
“There are no filters, the water tank has not been cleaned for long causing serious health concerns,” students said.
“There are only three water taps in the school and there is always a long queue. There is always garbage around the taps and yet we have to drink water from them,” said Shraddha, class 8 student.
Sharing their plight, other girls said, “Having failed to wake up the authorities’ concerned towards this long pending problem, we decided to purchase packaged drinking water. Inmates decided to contribute for the same.”
The hostel officials, when contacted for a comment about the problem, cited lack of resources as one of the biggest reasons for the lacunae here. Hostel superintendent Babita Sharma admitted the lack of availability of good quality drinking water at the hostel saying, “Water supply line was damaged few days ago”.
Sharma agreed that water from the lone hand pump at the premises stinks.
When contacted, block education officer Neeraj Abraham said, “Department has got a complaint from the hostel and we will rectify the problem at the earliest”.
Told about students contributing to purchase water, Abraham said that hostel inmates need not contribute for purchasing water. Department will issue necessary directives to the superintendent and will bear all expenses.
Block medical officer (BMO), Dr Mohan Gupta said, “Consumption of dirty water is detrimental to kids’ health. It can cause gastroenteritis along with stomach pain and vomiting. If the quality of water is bad, it might also cause cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A and hepatitis E”.
Dr Gupta added that he will visit the hostel with his team and collect water samples for testing.
