Mumbai: Water samples to be checked by BMC

The BMC's public health department will soon start collecting water and ice samples from different parts of the city to test if the water is contaminated. They will take samples from the street vendors like lime juice stalls and other cool beverage stalls in the city. Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer of BMC's public health department, said, "We will soon initiate a drive to collect water and ice samples in order to check water quality.During summer we see a lot of citizens opting for lime juice from street vendors, to avoid dehydration and heatstroke. We advice people to drink plenty of water and carry their own water bottle."

Central Railway has issued a letter stating all railway stalls to stop selling lime water, organ and kaala khatta drinks. The order was issued after a video of making lime juice in unhygienic manner went viral.

Last year March, the civic body's public health department conducted a survey across the city to collect ice samples. Around 98 per cent of the ice samples collected from different restaurants, hotels, juice centres were found to be contaminated.Dr Akash Shukla, head of Sion Hospital's gastroenterology, said, "Citizens should maintain personal hygiene, eat cooked food and avoid eating food which is likely to be contaminated and handled by people with bare hands. If there is any leakage from water pipeline or sewage line, citizens should immediately inform the civic authority."

Besides BMC, the FDA's food department too is gearing up to start sample collection of ice and water in different areas of the city. Shailesh Aadhav, Assistant Commissioner, FDA (Food), said, "We have less manpower due to election duties but we will soon be starting an inspection drive in the city to inspect the water and ice used by the street vendors across the city. Street vendors found using adulterated ice or contaminated water to make beverage or ice cream will be punished."