Indore water contamination: Congress accuses BJP govt of 'hiding' death toll, asks whether cholera detected in samples

New Delhi: Congress on Thursday accused the ruling BJP at the centre and Madhya Pradesh of “hiding” details of loss of lives due to contaminated water in Indore and sought a Supreme Court-level probe while asking whether cholera bacteria were detected in water samples tested.

Party's Media and Publicity Department Chairperson Pawan Khera urged the state government to publicise its communication with the centre on the conduct of water sample testing and its result and the actions taken on it.

He also alleged that the state government had taken loans of $200 million in 2003 and $71 million in 2008 for urban water supply and environment improvement projects but it has not started despite choosing the winning bidder. He asked the Prime Minister's Office to order a probe into the delay besides a Supreme Court-level probe to make the ruling BJP accountable.

“We want answers from the government. Were water samples and stool culture tests of affected citizens conducted in Indore? If tests were conducted, was the cholera bacterium found or not? What is the government hiding? The public has a right to know. We demand answers in writing,” he told a press conference.

“If vibrio cholerae was confirmed, were these cases duly notified under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP)? Cholera is a notifiable disease in India. Did the state government inform the union government about cholera cases and deaths? Whether the World Health Organisation was informed? Much is being hidden," he said.

Citing ‘Swachh Bharat’ and ‘Har Ghar Jal Yojana’, he claimed that the Indore incident “exposed the hollowness” of the government’s slogans and schemes.

“Prime Minister Modi has used these slogans in every election. This is the condition of Indore’s piped water supply. The direct responsibility lies with those who give fancy slogans, play spectators, keep us busy, and create divisions. The Prime Minister bears direct responsibility,” he said.

Claiming that this is “not an isolated incident”, he said at least 23 children died after consuming contaminated cough syrup months ago while children have lost their lives due to rats in government hospitals.

“Today, people are dying from drinking sewage-mixed water. Madhya Pradesh, under the BJP government, has now become an epicentre of misgovernance, where apathy kills, and accountability is nowhere to be found,” he alleged.

He said the people of Madhya Pradesh deserve justice, accountability, and immediate remedial action and the time has come for the BJP to “answer for its decades of failure and for the lives lost due to its gross negligence”.