“We have repeatedly approached the KMC to increase the water supply, which doesn’t meet even half of our requirements. We use groundwater, but still face water crisis,” said Anup Roy, Superintendent, Calcutta Medical College and Hospital.

Alarm bells rang when water of a tube well at the SSKM hospital was tested arsenic positive. Though the well was sealed and declared defunct, the hospital continues to use groundwater.

“We use both groundwater and corporation water, though the former is our main source. PWD maintains the water supply system in our hospital, it’s their responsibility to meet our requirements,” said Ashok Ghosh, Superintendent, SSKM hospital.

Taking stock of the situation, Debopriyo Mukherjee, Scientist, Central Pollution Control Board said: “Use of groundwater should be banned immediately. This water is contaminated and has spread to the confined zone, from where the water is lifted through deep tube wells. Arsenic is actually hauled up through these tube wells and gradually it spreads to the food chain and then to the environment.”

“In the absence of an equipped network, arsenic level can not be monitored all over the city. A proper infrastructure to monitor its intensity is also lacking in the state. At least in hospitals groundwater should not be used,” said Mukherjee. People should not use groundwater at places where it was tested positive, even if it was detected a few years ago, he added.