70% water samples near abandoned Union Carbide factory in Bhopal found contaminated

Around 70% of drinking water samples taken near the abandoned Union Carbide factory in Bhopal have been found contaminated with faecal coliform bacteria, according to reports from Bhopal gas survivors' organisations. The findings, released on Friday, highlight ongoing concerns over water safety in areas surrounding the former industrial site, which was the epicenter of one of the world's worst industrial disasters in 1984. Survivors’ groups claimed that 43 out of 63 water samples collected from taps in 30 communities tested positive for faecal coliform, indicating potential faecal contamination. The samples were gathered this month as part of efforts by four groups of Bhopal gas survivors who responded to resident complaints about contaminated tap water. The issue has drawn comparisons to the situation in Bhagirathpura, Indore, where similar health risks were previously identified due to polluted water supplies. Nawab Khan, president of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha, stated that 90% of the samples from the Upper Lake supply and 25% from the Kolar dam supply were found contaminated. He noted that residents living near the abandoned factory are experiencing symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and typhoid, raising alarm among community members and activists. The issue of water contamination near the Union Carbide site is not new. In 2004, the Supreme Court acknowledged groundwater contamination caused by hazardous waste dumped at the site and mandated the provision of piped drinking water to safeguard nearby residents. However, according to survivors’ organisations, the current situation shows that even this basic measure has failed, with the water supply now itself being compromised. Rashida Bee, president of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh, echoed these concerns, emphasizing that the failure to address the problem reflects a broader neglect of public health infrastructure. She pointed to a directive issued in August 2018 by the Supreme Court, which required the Bhopal Municipal Corporation to install sewage lines and improve drainage systems after complaints of faecal contamination. Despite these orders, the corporation reportedly promised to complete the task within three months but has yet to act after nearly eight years. Activists from the Bhopal Group for Information and Action called for stricter enforcement of existing directives. Rachna Dhingra, convener of the group, urged authorities to implement sewage and drainage projects on a time-bound basis and to introduce independent monitoring of drinking water quality. These demands reflect growing frustration among local residents and advocacy groups who feel their calls for accountability have gone unanswered. Efforts to secure comments from officials have so far yielded limited results. Multiple attempts to reach the BMC commissioner, Sanskriti Jain, for a statement were unsuccessful. An additional commissioner from the water works department, Tanmay Vashishth Sharma, declined to provide a response, citing his absence due to leave. This lack of engagement from municipal authorities has further fueled criticism from survivors’ organisations and environmental advocates. The continued presence of faecal coliform in water supplies near the Union Carbide site underscores persistent challenges in ensuring safe drinking water for communities affected by the 1984 disaster. With no immediate resolution in sight, the situation remains a pressing concern for public health and environmental justice.