Water-borne diseases take toll on workers in Noida, 30% sick

Nearly 30% of employees in Noida’s factories and entrepreneurial outfits have been missing from work this summer. Lack of clean drinking water and dependence on untreated tap water has led to more than five lakh workers falling sick with water-borne diseases.

“There are over 7,200 industrial outfits in Noida and it is not financially or technically feasible to provide bottled water to all workers. Most entrepreneurs complain about the quality of water supplied to the factories. The workers are forced to drink tap water which leads to a high number of water-borne ailments, thereby causing absence from work. It also tells heavily on the productivity of the workers,” said Vipin Malhan, president, Noida Entrepreneurs’ Association.