Cholera germs in Eden Gardens
water taps
M Chhaya in Kolkata
Civic inspectors have detected cholera germs in the water taps of
the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, just four days ahead of the third Test
between India and the West Indies.
The startling revelation comes after a routine check of water
samples from the stadium's storage facilities by the Kolkata
Municipal Corporation.
KMC's mayor-in-council (water) Shovan Chatterjee told reporters that water of seven blocks of the stadium was contaminated and "unfit for human consumption".
"We have detected coliform bacteria in the water samples from
eight taps in seven bocks of the stadium. Leave apart drinking it,
even using the water to wash could be dangerous," Chatterjee
warned.
The water samples, collected on Wednesday last, showed an average
of 180 PPM [parts per million] of coliform bacteria content.
The 100,000-seater Eden Gardens is India's biggest cricket
stadium, and every match here draws a full house.
"This means putting a substantial number of the capacity crowd to risk of
cholera," Mayor Subrata Mukherjee said.
KMC authorities have informed the Cricket Association of Bengal, the organisers of the Test, about the health hazard.
Tests on the water samples revealed no trace of chlorine or other
water disinfectants, proving that the stadium authorities had
taken no measures to ensure hygiene.
Young cricketers, practicing or playing in matches at the stadium, drink from
these taps. Cases of cholera have been detected in several neighbourhoods near
Kolkata, but these are not related to the stadium's water. At
least six people have died this week, reportedly from cholera in
these areas, after the underground water supply lines burst and
came in contact with sewerage channels.
The KMC has asked the stadium authorities to take immediate steps to
clean and disinfect its drinking water facilities. "We will again
take samples from the infected blocks on Sunday," Chatterjee
said.
CAB officials were unavailable for comment.
The CAB and the KMC are currently involved in an acrimonious
debate over payment of entertainment tax for the third Test.
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