mangalore today

MLA Lobo, Mayor Harinath refute ’water contamination’ allegation of Palemar


Mangalore Today News Network

 Mangaluru, Jan 13, 2017 : Mangaluru South MLA J R Lobo has come down heavily on former minister  Krishna J Palemar  over his recent allegations  that water supplied to several parts in the MCC  limits was contaminated with  coliforms.


Lobo 1


Lobo 2


Speaking to reporters  at the Mayor’s Chamber  in MCC office on January 13, Friday,  Lobo    urged Palemar not to dent the image of Mangaluru through such baseless allegations which, he said has only created fear in the minds of the people. As a responsible leader Palemar ought not to have done this, said Lobo. He also opined that  Palemar  should have  discussed the issue with the MCC before approaching the media.

Referring to Palemar’s claims that water samples from Katipalla, Krishnapur, Bondel, Chilimbi, Maryhill and other places when tested  at Mangaluru Biotech Lab were found to have been contaminated with faecal coliforms, Lobo said  the MCC  takes  measures to purify water before supplying it through pipelines. He also claimed that  no coliform was found in 98% of the water samples   when the same were tested by the Corporation at the  Department of Fisheries Microbiology of College of Fisheries and District Surveillance unit.

If Coliform has been found in some places, it was possibly due to the vacuum in the pipes which might have sucked  up the mud or waste water from outside resulting in contamination. He also said that the  MCC would take necessary action  in case water was found contaminated anywhere.

Mayor Harinath who also spoke, said  no sooner Palemar held  the press meet, the MCC had collected water samples from 28 places for testing  and the report  of 21 places  have revealed that the was no contamination of coliform.

Reacting to Palemar’s allegation that water  supplied to Suratkal Government Hospital  was contaminated, the Mayor said that the hospital used well water and that the possibility was of seepage of drainage water . He appealed to Palemar not to spread false rumours.

City Corporation Commissioner Mohammad Nazeer, Mangaluru North MLA  Moidin Bava, Corporators Shashidhar Hegde,  Lancelot Pinto, Kavitha Sanil were also present among others.