By Our Reporter
Shillong: The Public Health Engineering (PHE) department is yet to ascertain the level of toxicity in the water of a stream at Nongumlong village near Umlyngka, East Khasi Hills, even as it advised local residents to avoid using the water, following allegations that some miscreants had recently poured pesticides in the water.
“Our officials are still conducting enquiries into the matter, but people are advised to refrain from using water from this stream for drinking purposes,” PHE chief engineer SK Sunn told this scribe on Thursday.
SDO of PHE KS Kurbah said the department has made temporary arrangement to provide drinking water to the villagers through a water tanker.
“At the moment we cannot take chances as the water samples are still being tested and we are awaiting the results.”
The SDO also stated that the water has been poisoned either intentionally or accidentally. “We can’t rule out possibilities of accidental pollution from pesticides as investigation is still in progress,” he said.
Kurbah also informed that although no case of illness has been reported till date the local Dorbar is taking all precautions.
It may be noted that recently, unknown miscreants had allegedly poured pesticides in the stream at Nongumlong village causing a scare among the villagers. The matter came to light after foul smell emanating from the water was reported by some villagers of the area.