Dead rats, cats in college well, cause for students protest

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Nov 12, 2016: It is reported that hordes  of students of Canara Pre-University College on Jail Road protested on November 11,  Friday against the college management for forcing them to drink contaminated well water.   The students, who got the water tested at KMC Hospital, found that the water they had been consuming for several months is contaminated. The laboratory report states that the bacteriological water shows significant numbers of coliforms concluding that the quality of water is ’unsatisfactory and not suitable for drinking.’

Protesting students said: "When we raised this issue with the college management, they were reluctant to clean the well and told us to drink that water or stay thirsty. Students added that the surface of the water in the well is fully covered with dirt and other waste materials. "We have also found dead rats, cats and other small animals in the well. We will continue our protest till the issue is solved," they said. As prohibitory orders were clamped across the district in view of the Tipu Jayanti, police personnel rushed to the campus thinking that there was trouble.

A microbiologist said that when coliforms have been detected in the well water used for drinking, repairs or modifications of the water system may be required.

Boiling water is advised until disinfection and retesting can confirm that contamination has been eliminated. "A defective well is often the cause when coliform bacteria are found in the well water," he added.   Prabha Kamath Hundi, college principal,  said they have declared a holiday for the college today Nov 12, Saturday and classes will resume on Monday. "We have undertaken the repair and cleaning of the well, water tanks and other water storage units in the college. The issue will be resolved soon," she added.

Girl students particularly said that the toilets too are not in proper and clean position.