Sunil Dabriwala, Managing Director, Rivernbanks Holding Pvt. Ltd, which has developed the Highland Park apartments at the Bypass said: "Since we did not have a choice but to use ground water supply, we have ensured that our tube wells are placed at least 500 metres away from each other to prevent groundwater depletion and the water is treated separately again. In addition, a different supply of drinking water undergoes Reverse Osmosis (RO) treatment."

"Regular consumption of arsenic may lead to its accumulation in the body and if the body saturates its capacity, the metalloid may manifest itself physically in the form of a number of diseases of the skin, gangrene and even cancer," said researchers of the SOES.

"What's worse is that by the time it is detected, it becomes often late. Besides, there is no medication for arsenic treatment in patients," a researcher added.

While rural areas outside the city have water treatment plants to take care of arsenic and other bacterial contamination, ground water supply devices in Kolkata are not installed with such facilities.

The KMC, however, does not seem to be worried.

"There is no need for such treatment, especially since we are expanding our surface water supply all over the city," said Maity.

Maity added that lack of a proper distribution system and an excessive wastage of water is making it difficult for connecting every part of the city with surface water supply.

"We aim to reach every part of Kolkata by 2010," he said.

The general public are hardly convinced by the KMC's contention that once every household in the city gets supply water connection the issue of groundwater depletion will be minimised.

"We get KMC-supply water in our building, but it is extremely scarce and hardly suffices our daily needs. Hav ing no choice, I finally have to get water delivered to my house from tube wells around the area," said Purnima Dutta, a housewife.

Of the original 365 tube wells scattered around the city, Maity claimed that only 272 exist now.

He, however, did not give a specific deadline for the removal of every tube in the city.

Adding to this, there is no attempt made by the administration to educate the masses about the hazards of drinking ground water.

"Boiling the water may actually enhance arsenic content, yet many are not aware of such intricacies," pointed out a SOES researcher.

Lack of awareness programmes in this regard means that many are actually unaware of the hazards of consuming ground water.