2 die due to contaminated drinking water in Nainital, 6 Uttarakhand engineers suspended due to negligence

Six engineers were suspended with immediate effect on Monday following allegations of negligence linked to the supply of contaminated drinking water in the Jyolikot area of Nainital district, officials said. As per a PTI report, The contaminated water was linked to cases of jaundice and other waterborne diseases in the area, with two deaths reported.

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The suspensions followed an inquiry ordered by the Nainital district administration after Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed officials to investigate the matter. The inquiry found that the six engineers had failed to discharge their duties, officials said.

Engineers suspended

Those suspended include the officiating superintending engineer of Jal Sansthan in Haldwani, the assistant engineer and additional assistant engineer of Jal Sansthan in Nainital, and three officials from Peyjal Nigam in Bhimtal. The three Peyjal Nigam officials are the executive engineer, officiating assistant engineer and junior engineer. Officials said the action was taken after several cases of jaundice and other waterborne diseases were reported in Jyolikot following the supply of contaminated drinking water.

What Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said officials responsible for protecting public health would face action if they failed to safeguard public interests. "Compromising public health cannot be tolerated at any cost. Public interest is paramount for our government, and action will be taken against any official or employee who disregards the public's interests,” Dhami said.

Warning issued to another engineer

Apart from the six suspensions, a warning has also been issued to the executive engineer of Jal Sansthan in Nainital, officials said. The action comes after the district administration's inquiry into the contaminated water supply and the health problems reported in the Jyolikot area.

(Source: PTI)