The denizens here have to drink contaminated pipe water through water points supplied by the PH Division since long, yet the authorities are nonchalant. According to sources, the pipes through which drinking water is supplied to households and public places carry contaminated water as the pipe lines have been lying in broken condition near Mahatma Gandhi English Medium School for a long span of time where one can have an illusion of a mini tank.
The muddy water there emanates foul smell in the surrounding areas and similar smell comes in the tap water, allege some locals. Contacted, Junior Engineer Aravind Panda of PH Division (Urban) here, who had assured of repairing the pipes early at a preparatory meeting on sun stroke conducted by local administration a month ago, said steps were being taken to plug the loophole. Sources, however, cautioned that the unhygienic water supplied to the people of Athagarh at any time can create epidemic like situation. Meanwhile, the locals have demanded early repair of the pipes.