Mangaluru: Admitting that coliform bacteria had been found in drinking water samples collected from five places in Mangaluru City North and at one place in Mangaluru City South, Mangaluru City Corporation said on Friday that there was no need to panic as the civic body had taken corrective steps.

Addressing media persons, Mayor Harinath said that the bacteria had been found in water samples collected from Sunkadakatte, Krishnapura Vishwanatha temple area, Katipalla-Krishnapura Block II Masjid area, Krishnapura VII Block area, Padupadavu (all Mangaluru City North) and Vadiraja Nagara, Alake (in the south).

It was due to a mix-up of sewage water with drinking water as the pipelines of both the water supply and underground sewage network got damaged simultaneously while earth-movers dug up earth for laying underground sewage network in these areas. The Mayor said that now both the damaged pipelines have been repaired and clean water was being supplied to the residents.

But the Mayor’s statement that clean water was being supplied after repairs to the pipelines is yet to be confirmed as laboratory reports on water samples collected for the second time were awaited.

The Mayor said that the civic body had sent samples to the Department of Fisheries Microbiology, College of Fisheries and to the laboratory of District Surveillance Unit, near Mangaluru Central Railway Station. The samples for the first time were also tested in those laboratories.

He said that no water contamination has been found in samples collected from Panambur pumphouse, Kulai pumphouse, Govinda Dasa College, Janata Colony and from near the house of Idya Vasudeva.

Mr. Harinath said that water samples collected from 28 places across the city tested negative for coliform bacteria and there was no water contamination in the source of drinking water supply to the city, i.e., the Thumbe vented dam.

He said that “in 98 per cent areas of the city, clean drinking water is being supplied.”

It was J. Krishna Palemar, former district in-charge Minister, who at a press conference recently raked up the matter of coliform bacteria content in drinking water.