Rising diarrhoea cases linked to water pollution

An alarming surge in Diarrhoea cases has gripped Andhra Pradesh, with water pollution identified as the culprit in Guntur, Vijayawada, and Kakinada. These outbreaks have claimed several lives. While the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has responded with meetings and awareness campaigns, residents fear these efforts are insufficient. The root cause – contaminated water supply pipelines – remains unaddressed.
As the monsoon season sets in, the risk of drinking water contamination escalates. Preventative measures, ideally implemented in May and June, are crucial to avert such health crises. Without these measures, there is a significant danger of sewage infiltrating drinking water pipelines. Guntur has already experienced a severe diarrhoea outbreak due to polluted water, resulting in three fatalities. Less than a month ago, Vijayawada faced a similar outbreak, leading to five deaths and hundreds of hospitalizations. Recently, four cases were reported in the Chittoor district, and two each in the East Godavari district and Kakinada.
The State government has issued comprehensive guidelines to local bodies, emphasising stricter precautions and public awareness. However, GVMC meetings seem to be the primary response in Visakhapatnam, leaving the crucial issue of pipeline relocation untouched.
GVMC manages approximately 320,000 tap connections, supplying 65 million gallons of water daily from reservoirs such as Eleru, Tatipudi, Raiwada, Mehadrigedda, Mudasarlova, and Gambhiram. This water is purified and chlorinated before being distributed through 291 internal mini reservoirs. However, areas like Maharanipet, Kancharapalem, Malkapuram, Gajuwaka, Maddilapalem, One Town, Allipuram, Akkayyapalem, and Muslimthatichetlapalem face significant risks due to pipelines running through drainage systems. During heavy rains, overflowing drainages can lead to sewage contaminating the tap water supply.
Residents have voiced their concerns about tap joints located within drainages, creating unpredictable and hazardous situations. GVMC staff report that officials are prioritizing meetings and awareness programs over the essential task of relocating these pipelines. Despite the evident risks and ongoing outbreaks, water supply department officials have denied the possibility of water pollution.
Immediate and decisive action is required to address this public health crisis. Without addressing the fundamental issues of water supply contamination, the state remains vulnerable to recurring outbreaks and preventable tragedies.