Cases of waterborne diseases in state up from 3L to 21L in 5 yrs

Auditor slams Maharashtra Pollution Control Board for neglecting state’s water bodies.

: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has slammed the Maharashtra Poll-ution Control Board (MPCB) for failing to control pollution of water bodies across the state. The neglect, the CAG report states, has led to a steep rise in cases of waterborne diseases in recent years.

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The report, which was tabled on Tuesday, says that the number of people in the state who suffered from waterborne diseases increased from 3.14 lakh in 2006-07 to 21.24 lakh in 2010-11.

“This indicates the failure of authorities to control water pollution… and the diminishing standards in potable water,” the report says. The CAG noted that there were 648 deaths because of waterborne diseases such as gastroenteritis, diarrhoea, hepatitis and typhoid. Gastroentritis claimed 503 lives, more than any other disease, while diarrhoea was the next big killer with 71 deaths.

The report also revealed that there are no sewage treatment facilities in 18 towns including those of Ambernath, Badlapur, Latur, Nanded, Ahmednagar.

HT has been highlighting the problem of water pollution in Mumbai. A BMC report released last year revealed that 24.64% of the drinking water supplied to the city is unfit for consumption. The report revealed the presence of e-coli bacteria, traces of sewage water, mud pellets and suspended solid particles in drinking water.