Nashik Municipal Corporation has intensified water-supply and health measures in Dattanagar, Ambad, after residents reported yellowish borewell water and a rise in skin ailments. The civic body carried out 50 tanker trips, installed five storage tanks and advised residents not to use borewell water for drinking or domestic purposes.
The emergency response followed directions from guardian minister Girish Mahajan and municipal commissioner Manisha Khatri. Between October 9 and 14, the Nashik Municipal Corporation supplied water to affected pockets through tankers while working to strengthen household connections and complete a new pipeline under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme.
An NMC official said 50 upgraded water connections had already been provided and work was under way on another 120 connections. The official added that a 1,029-metre water pipeline had been laid, with the remaining work expected to be completed by Thursday evening. The civic body has also restored water supply to the morning schedule following residents’ demands.
The response is focused on reducing dependence on local borewells, several of which officials said were contaminated. NMC is sealing the affected borewells and conducting awareness drives to inform residents about the risks associated with polluted groundwater. Officials also found that several housing clusters were drawing water through inadequate municipal connections.
The civic body said it was providing appropriately sized connections based on the number of households in each cluster. The move is intended to address gaps in the local distribution network, where existing connections were reportedly insufficient for the number of residents relying on them.
The water-supply intervention is taking place alongside medical monitoring. At a special health camp organised by NMC at Tuljabhavani Temple on Wednesday, 149 residents underwent screening. Of these, 90 were diagnosed with skin ailments. NMC said 62 residents had moderately severe symptoms, 26 had mild symptoms and two had severe skin conditions. All those diagnosed were provided free medicines and treatment.
The reported health concerns have made the Dattanagar episode both a water-distribution and public-health issue. While the civic body has linked its immediate response to concerns over contaminated groundwater and skin ailments, the supplied report does not establish the medical cause of every illness. Residents have nevertheless been instructed to avoid borewell water until the affected sources are sealed and safer municipal supply is available.
NMC will hold another health camp at Tuljabhavani Temple on Saturday from 10am to 2pm. The camp is intended to continue treatment and monitoring of residents in the affected area. The civic body’s immediate milestones are the completion of the remaining AMRUT 2.0 pipeline work, provision of the pending 120 connections and continued tanker and health support.
