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Petition for drinking water

Staff Correspondent

Seeks construction of an overhead water tank

DEHRA DUN: Janhit Foundation, a Meerut-based NGO, has filed a writ petition in the Allahabad High Court seeking construction of an overhead water tank for supply of clean drinking water to the 12,000-strong population of Jai Bheem Nagar, a slum adjoining the Meerut Medical College.

Disclosing this here on Tuesday, Foundation director Anil Rana said that an overhead tank for water supply was needed immediately as the ground water in the area had turned poisonous due to contamination from the medical wastes of the Medical College and the highly polluted Kali river.

Tests had shown presence of highly toxic chemicals and metals including mercury in the water being pumped out through hand pumps in Jai Bheem Nagar.

The locals have abandoned the hand pumps and fetch safe drinking water from far-off places. "Repeated appeals to the district and municipal authorities have had no impact," he said.

The Foundation had also placed the case before Food First International Action Network (FIAN), a Germany-based pressure group working for the safeguard of Right to Food and Right to Water, which has also sent a representation to the Prime Minister's Office and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, it is stated

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Petition for drinking water

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