NHRC seeks ATR from Odisha govt on supply of contaminated water

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Apr 28:

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today sought the action taken report (ATR) from Odisha government on the case of contaminated drinking water with pesticide content which seriously affected the health of people including children in a village in Mayurbhanj district.

At least 43 persons including some children of Talapada village of Thakurmunda block in Mayurbhanj district were taken ill after consuming water with pesticide content from an overhead tank on April 7, human rights activist Akhand had said in a complaint to the NHRC .

The Commission taking cognizance of the matter based on the complaint directed the secretary of drinking water and sanitation under Rural Development department to file a reply within four weeks.

The water tank constructed by the department of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) had begun supplying water from April 4, three days before the date of the incident, said Akhand in his complaint.

The activist said, on April 7 people of Talapada village complained of burning sensation in their faces followed by repeated vomiting after an hour of consuming the water supplied from the tank. During investigation, the RWSS staff found a bottle of ‘cylothin’, a pesticide, inside the tank.

“This is negligence on the part of the RWSS department officials. No action has been taken against anybody so far by the department” alleged Akhand in his complaint.