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“Jaipur getting contaminated water”

JAIPUR: Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot on Thursday expressed concern over deaths reported from colonies in the State capital allegedly caused by contaminated drinking water. The casualties have been reported over a period of three months but the State Government has done nothing to provide safe drinking water to the affected population now living in fear of an epidemic breaking out in the area, he said.

“It is a matter of shame that the Government has not woken up to the health crisis in the city’s old settlements such as Galta Gate, Hida Ki Mori, Subhash Chowk and Murlipura where contaminated water is still supplied to households,” Mr. Gehlot said talking to journalists here.

“In three months, nine persons have died of jaundice and hundreds of patients are still reporting in hospitals daily with complaints of vomiting, loose motion and jaundice,” he added.

“It is unfortunate that the Government has not yet acknowledged that the deaths have been caused by contaminated water even while the experts opinion points to this only,” Mr. Gehlot said referring to widespread public discontent over the quality of water supplied in many colonies here.

“The Chief Minister and the Water Resources Minister did not find time so far to visit the affected families,” he said demanding a relief of a minimum of Rs.2 lakhs to the kin of the deceased. Once an enquiry into the quality of water confirmed the presence of contamination the amount could be raised to Rs.5 lakhs, he suggested.

Accusing Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje of inciting caste discord in the State, Mr. Gehlot said Wednesday’s rally in Jaipur, held apparently to mark the 300th birth anniversary of Maharaja Surajmal Jat and presided over by her, was an “election stunt”.

“The Chief Minister is addressing caste rallies in the name of Maharaja Surajmal and Rajput hero Tan Singh. They are respected by all communities in Rajasthan and not alone by the respective castes they belonged to,” he noted.

“Violent caste conflicts akin to those witnessed in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are unknown in Rajasthan. However this kind of caste-wise segregation, including the recent Gujjar-Meena conflict encouraged by the authorities, would have disastrous consequences in the State’s social life,” Mr. Gehlot warned.

As for the compensation to the farmers affected by the cold wave conditions, Mr. Gehlot said the party was willing to take up the demand from the State Government for inclusion of such categories in calamity relief with the Centre.

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