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Journalism of Courage
As law students took up the issue of the recent spurt in Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) due to supply of contaminated water, the National Green Tribunal has directed the Pune Municipal Corporation and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation to respond to allegations of water contamination that led to GBS spurt and action taken to control it.
Admitting an application filed by law students including Rishan Sarode, NGT Western Zone bench comprising Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and expert member Vijay Kulkarni on March 6 directed the PMC and PCMC to file an affidavit in response to submission that GBS spurt in their jurisdiction was due to supply of contaminated water while providing information on action taken to control the GBS diseases.
“Considering the averments in the application and the prima facie evidence placed on record, we find that the question of adverse impact on environment is raised in this application and hence, we admit the original application and direct to issue notice at present to PMC and PCMC,” the bench said.
It is expected of PMC and PCMC to disclose as to whether averments made in this application are correct and what action has been taken at their end to take care of this disease of GBS, by filing an affidavit in that regard, it said.
The applicants sought to issue directions to PMC and PCMC to ensure the supply of safe and clean drinking water to all areas affected by GBS disease and conduct periodic water quality monitoring saying the disease being mainly a water-borne disease.
They also requested the tribunal to direct the Pune Collector, MPCB and Water Supply and Sanitation Department to immediately identify and eliminate all sources of water contamination in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad to prevent further spread of disease. The state public health department, Indian Council of Medical Research and state Urban Development should be directed to provide immediate medical aid, treatment and financial assistance to those who are affected by GBS disease, said applicants.
The applicants also asked the NGT to direct to assess the water quality in all wells under their jurisdiction and eliminate contamination therein and restore them through de-contamination, sealing and sustainable management while holding authorities accountable under the “polluter pays” principle and impose penalty for negligence leading to the spread of the disease.
“As GBS spread in Pune city, a total of 166 cases of this disease are diagnosed. The outbreak is attributed to contamination of drinking water and serious urgency is reflected as five persons have succumbed, 21 patients are still on ventilator and 61 patients are in ICU while 52 persons have been discharged from the hospital,” said Asim Sarode representing the applicants.
The report of contamination of water shows that the samples taken at Kirkitwadi, Nanded, Dhayari, etc. were found to contain coliform bacteria and E-coli, he said.
