VELLORE: Pennathur town panchayat councillor A.M. Venkatesan complained to the Tamil Nadu Assembly Petitions Committee, which visited the Government Vellore Medical College Hospital (GVMCH) in Adukkamparai on Tuesday, that liquid effluents discharged by the hospital were let into an irrigation tank in Sabdalipuram leading to contamination of groundwater in the village. Mr. Venkatesan told committee chairman Kovai Thangam that water yielded by the deep borewells in Sabdalipuram, Chinna Sabdalipuram and Mettupalayam were polluted by the effluents. People living in these villages had to trek for two km to fetch good water. Besides, agricultural lands in these villages had also been affected. He and Jothikumar of Sabdalipuram urged the petitions committee to ensure that the hospital treats effluents and uses them internally. Mr. Kovai Thangam assured the complainants that the committee would take action on their complaints. Later, the committee visited the Government Adi Dravidar Girls Hostel in Fort Round Road and enquired the hostellers about the facilities provided.