HC issues notice to Punjab govt

CHANDIGARH: Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notice to the Punjab government for alleged supply of poisonous drinking water in some parts of the state.

A Division Bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Mahesh Aggarwal issued the notice taking cognisance of a newspaper report as PIL.

Earlier, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) had issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of the state to file a report and adjourned the matter to February six next year.

The newspaper report had pointed out quoting a study that people in 25 villages were being supplied water effected by industrial waste and pesticides.

The drinking water in these villages was toxic due to a high concentration of heavy metals such as mercury, copper, cadmium, chromium and lead, the report said.