Comba locals smell 'kerosene' in water of 12 wells

MARGAO: Panic gripped residents of Comba, Margao, on Thursday, as they suspect their wells are contaminated with a fuel-like substance. Sources said contamination was noticed in at least 12 wells and the possibility of more wells being affected is high.
Residents complained of strong odour, like kerosene, emanating from their wells, and also noticed a thin layer of oily material on the water's surface.A visit by TOI on Thursday evening to two wells confirmed the fears.
Residents noticed the development after water supply to the area was affected on account of the ongoing laying of underground electricity cables. Sources said the digging work has breached pipelines, but since the work is through the "trenchless technology" method, detecting the breach is difficult. Comba area has consequently been receiving restricted water supply for the last few weeks.
"On Wednesday evening, as the taps were dry, we went to draw water from our well. That's when we noticed that the water smelt of kerosene and had an oily layer," said Pramila Damodar Nayak of Comba. Realizing that other wells in the area had the same problem, she informed Margao municipal council chairperson Susheela Nayak-also a resident of Comba-on Thursday morning.
The MMC chief, when contacted, confirmed having received complaints from several residents and said, "I will bring this to the notice of health authorities soon." However, health officer at the urban health centre Dr Geeta Kakodkar said she had yet to receive any complaints.
Locals feel the water must have contaminated much earlier but no one noticed as the wells are used only when the taps run dry. "I noticed the well water bubbling on the surface on Thursday morning," said Purushottam Wagle, another Comba resident.
Though the source of contamination could not be immediately identified, residents fear possible seepage of fuel into the groundwater from the fuel storage tanks of two petrol stations nearby.
Residents said this possibility stemmed from a similar incident in the locality some 2-3 years ago where investigations had traced the leakage to a petrol tank.
When TOI brought the matter to the notice of mamlatdar in-charge of disaster management cell, South Goa collectorate, Ashutosh Apte, on Thursday evening, he immediately alerted Goa state pollution control board authorities. "GSPCB will depute a team to the site to check the well water on Friday morning," Apte said.
Adding that GSPCB officials have not dismissed probability of fuel leakage from a petrol pump tank, Apte said proper investigations will show the source of contamination. He said investigations into a similar complaint at Loutolim four years ago had confirmed fuel seepage from a petrol tank.