KHOTANG: Coliform bacteria was found in the drinking water distributed in Diktel Municipality of Khotang.Coliform bacteria is present in human faeces. The bacteria was found in the water distributed to residents of Diktel. Dhan Kumar Joshi, chairman of Drinking water Consumers’ Committee, said that 30 per cent and 40 per cent coliform bacteria was found in the reserve tanks of Majhkhola Drinking Water Project and Rambakhola Drinking Water Project respectively. Jivan Kumar Shrestha, chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal, Khotang, said bacteria was found in the drinking water as sources of the drinking water projects were in the open. “We have repeatedly raised the issue with the concerned authority, but our pleas have fallen on deaf ears,” Shrestha said. Bijay Kumar Thakur, Chief at Drinking Water and Sanitation Sub-division Office Khotang, said his office had distributed 50 kg bleaching powder provided by the Department of Health to the consumers’ committee. “We have given bleaching powder as a stop-gap solution. Since it requires a huge amount to preserve the water source, we shall seek a long-term solution,” Thakur added. Chairman Joshi said that they would soon mix bleaching powder to the water source. Locals lamented that there was seepage of sewage into the drinking water pipes. Jay Prasad Rai of Diktel Municipality said that contaminated water from the sewage had got mixed in the drinking water pipes as the latter had developed cracks at many places. Dr Madhav Lamsal, Chief at the district hospital, asked the locals to drink boiled water, as coliform is detrimental to human health. “Since drinking water gets mixed with polluted water during monsoon, it is better to drink boiled water,” suggested Lamsal.