Local bodies reluctant to take stringent action against polluters

Health activists have raised serious questions about the quality of water supplied to rural homes since many establishments, including those of official agencies, have been found to release, often clandestinely, their wastes into rivers and other water sources. Complaints are also rife that water supplied under rural water schemes is not properly treated and that contaminated water reaching rural households triggers water-borne diseases like jaundice. Large quantities of water from private sources are also supplied to hostels and lodges before treating it properly.