Mangaluru: MLC Ivan D’Souza has urged the deputy commissioner and the commissioner of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) to immediately form a committee to investigate the allegations of drinking water contamination levelled by Mangaluru City South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath.MLC D’Souza, who visited the water treatment plant in Bendoor in the city on Friday, said that MLA Kamath was quoted in newspaper reports that residents in some parts of Mangaluru are suffering from health issues, including vomiting and fever, due to contaminated water. Responding to this, D’Souza said that ensuring the supply of pure water is the responsibility of the MCC, which is funded by crores of rupees from the state government. He emphasised that politicising this issue is inappropriate.D’Souza noted that he visited the water treatment plant following the MLA’s complaint. After consulting with officials and reviewing lab reports, he asserted that the water supplied by the corporation is potable, and the reported contamination is not possible. He criticised the circulation of such reports, stating that it misleads the public and is an attempt to create panic. He maintained that drinking water management is a civic duty of the city corporation, regardless of political party affiliations.Furthermore, he has urged the DC and the MCC commissioner to immediately form an investigation committee to determine the exact cause of the illnesses—specifically, whether they originated from private well water or the water supplied by the city corporation. He requested that the findings of this committee be made public, and that an inquiry be conducted into the statements made by MLA Kamath.Additionally, D’Souza said that he has informed urban development minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah about the situation, and requested an investigation into the source of these rumors.
