AREA OF CONCERN: Nalla Channel outlet discharging pollutants into the Godavari near Seshaiahmetta area in Rajahmundry. - Photo: S. Rambabu

Rajahmundry: People of Rajahmundry seem to be sceptical about the safety of drinking water supplied by the corporation.

A majority of employees, except those working in a few departments in the Rajahmundry Municipal Corporation, consume only private canned water.

A large number of government employees and those working in public sector and private sector units carry water bottles with them or depend on groundwater. All big hotels depend on groundwater or canned water. Private water plants are doing brisk business on the bank of the Godavari.

There are 200 big and small hospitals, clinics in the city, where 60 per cent of patients are being treated for water-related diseases.

Inaction alleged

Environmentalist Tallavajjula Patanjali Sastry attributes this to the inaction on Godavari river water pollution.

"Some of the politicians who contested the last elections had promised to shift headwater works from Puskharaghat to Venkatanagaram village.

But even engineers working in the Public Health and Water Works Departments of the RMC do not know anything about outlets constructed during British time," he adds.

The Public Health Department of the RMC is treating water near Pushkara Ghat with five plants. "Three among the five are 12 MLD (million litres per day) fourth one is 8.2 MLD and another one with 10 MLD capacities. I agree that there is a vent of sewage water within half-kilometre apart from major outlet -- Nalla Channel," said Bhaskar, assistant engineer of Public Health department.

RMC officials say a private mill and Nalla Channel which discharges domestic waste and bio-waste into the are the major polluters.

"Under the National River Conservation Project, we are taking all steps to keep the sacred Godavari clean. Works worth Rs. 16 crore are apace.

We have the Ava Channel pipeline project to carry sewage water for treatment outside the city, said Mayor M.S. Chakravarti.

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