The samples were picked up during the past 15 days by the Public Health Department of UT Administration and the staff of the Medical Officer (Health) of MC, in their ongoing drive to check the spread of water-borne diseases, particularly cholera, and to discourage the use of non-chlorinated water for drinking purposes.

The samples which failed the test were taken from Punjab Raj Bhawan, UT Guest House, Indira Colony, Mauli Jagran colony, Subhash Nagar, Ram Durbar Colony No. 1, Labour Colony No. 4, Palsora Colony, Dadumajra Colony and RN 14 tubewell in Dhanas village. Samples were also taken from two ice factories in Industrial Area, the Kashmir Ice Factory and Kapoor Ice Factory.

The MC officials, however, maintained that there was no need to panic as necessary steps to improve the quality of water had already been taken.Besides the 20 water samples that failed the test, four samples picked up from households in UT's villages were also found to be unsatisfactory. According to sources, these households are in Subhash Nagar in the Manimajra township, Colony No. 4, Slaughter House and Kashmir Ice Factory.

The water in these areas was being contaminated due to the leakage in the underground water pipeline, say officials. The residents in these areas have, therefore, been advised by the MC officials to boil the water before drinking it.

A water sample was also collected by the MC officials from a shallow handpump in Maloya Colony which was found to be unfit for human consumption. Consequently, the MC officials have advised the residents of the colony to use water from handpumps with a depth of at least 1,000 feet.

Says Manmohanjit Singh, Superintending Engineer of the Public Health Department: ``We are taking samples of water from Sector 39 Water Works every two hours to ensure proper mixing of chlorine. All executive engineers have been directed to ensure that the water in the city and surrounding villages is free from contamination.''

Singh expects the residents of the city and its villages too to take some precautions. ``They must clean their water storage tanks twice a month and also mix bleaching powder in it to disinfect it,'' he says. Meanwhile, the MC has written to the Public Health Department to chlorinate the tubewell water being supplied to villages on the city's outskirts. The MC maintains the water supply only within the city.