The Punjab State and Chandigarh (UT) Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of the issue of supply of dirty water to four-storey houses in village Maloya, Chandigarh and issued a notice to the Commissioner of Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh. The Commission has asked the Commissioner to submit a report on this matter before June 27.
Commission Chairperson Justice Santo Prakash issued the order saying that he has ordered “Residents forced to drink dirty water as authorities pass buck” i.e. “People forced to drink dirty water, officers putting the responsibility on each other. Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and Chandigarh Housing Board are putting the responsibility of maintenance of public health services on each other, due to which people living in 4,960 small flats of Maloya are forced to drink dirty water.
No coordination between departments for 3 years
The people of village Maloya are getting supply of dirty water for the last one month and despite complaints, the Municipal Corporation has been avoiding action. Chandigarh Housing Board says that the responsibility of public health services like water, sewerage and storm water was handed over to the Municipal Corporation on 28 October 2022, while the corporation says that it has not taken this responsibility yet. Due to this dispute, the water supply and sewerage system of village Maloya area has been hanging in the balance for the last 3 years.
People falling sick, complaints of vomiting and diarrhea
Four Vikas, who lives in Manzila, said that dirty water has been coming for a long time, due to which children and old people are falling ill. Many people are having problems like diarrhea and vomiting. Despite this, the administration has not been able to find any solution till now.
