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.
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.