Contaminated water consumption puts slum dwellers' health at risk
Most of the slum dwellers in Ludhiana district don't have an access to the potable water supply, a basic necessity for the existence of human life. The slum areas, which are nearly 200 in numbers, have been facing the apathy of the authorities for long.
Most of the slum dwellers in Ludhiana district don't have an access to the potable water supply, a basic necessity for the existence of human life. The slum areas, which are nearly 200 in numbers, have been facing the apathy of the authorities for long.
According to the residents, the politicians visit their areas most often and promise to get them water supply at the earliest, but nothing has been done till date in this direction.
Rajiv Gandhi Colony, a slum area near the railway tracks, which is included in the list of unauthorised areas in the city, has more than 10,000 dwellers. The residents have got handpumps installed to meet their needs of water, but the water lacks hygiene due to which the dwellers have been suffering from several health diseases.
The slum dwellers say it is their meagre income which forces them to reside in such areas. "Potable water is the basic need which the government should provide to us,"they say. Most of them send their children to far off places to fetch water.
Besides, waterlogging during rainy days is yet another problem for the slum dwellers as it becomes a breeding point for mosquitoes and flies. "Despite repeated requests, the authorities concerned have failed to pay attention towards our demands,"the residents allege.
A slum dweller, seeking anonymity, said, "The chief of our area assures to get us water supply connection but demands `5,000 for every family of the colony. We cannot afford to give such an amount. The government should take a stock of the situation and do the needful for us."
The slum dwellers say the water they get from handpumps is highly contaminated as it is yellow or orange in colour.