Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu along with four Municipal Councillors today met Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Minister Vidya Stokes to discuss the issue of outbreak of jaundice in the state capital.
Stokes apprised Sukhu and the four Councillors from the worst affected wards of the town of the measures taken by the IPH Department after the initial cases of jaundice were reported. The four councillors accompanying the Congress chief were Deepak Rohal, Surinder Chauhan, Praveen Kumar and Alok Pathania. Former MLA and HPCC general secretary Harbhajan Singh Bhajji and chairman of the media cell Naresh Chauhan were also present.
“The IPH minister informed us that the state government has sanctioned a sum of Rs 14 crore for installing the latest technology at the six Sewerage Treatment Plants (STP) for ensuring quality and safe drinking water to the residents,” informed Sukhu. He said Stokes had assured him that all necessary steps were being taken and she had personally visited the Ashwani khud and the STP plant to monitor the situation.
Sukhu also lamented the politics being played on the issue of the jaundice outbreak. “It is not a problem which has arisen overnight and the present regime is responsible for it. Rather than indulging in blame game, the local BJP MLA, instead of making statements in the media, should have personally met the IPH minister to bring to her notice the shortcomings and his suggestions,” said Sukhu.
He added it was not for the first time that jaundice had broken out in Shimla. “It has happened during the regime of both Congress and the BJP but that should not be an issue as the concern of one and all is to ensure safe drinking water,” he said.
Stokes apprised Sukhu and the four Councillors from the worst affected wards of the town of the measures taken by the IPH Department after the initial cases of jaundice were reported. The four councillors accompanying the Congress chief were Deepak Rohal, Surinder Chauhan, Praveen Kumar and Alok Pathania. Former MLA and HPCC general secretary Harbhajan Singh Bhajji and chairman of the media cell Naresh Chauhan were also present.
“The IPH minister informed us that the state government has sanctioned a sum of Rs 14 crore for installing the latest technology at the six Sewerage Treatment Plants (STP) for ensuring quality and safe drinking water to the residents,” informed Sukhu. He said Stokes had assured him that all necessary steps were being taken and she had personally visited the Ashwani khud and the STP plant to monitor the situation.
Sukhu also lamented the politics being played on the issue of the jaundice outbreak. “It is not a problem which has arisen overnight and the present regime is responsible for it. Rather than indulging in blame game, the local BJP MLA, instead of making statements in the media, should have personally met the IPH minister to bring to her notice the shortcomings and his suggestions,” said Sukhu.
He added it was not for the first time that jaundice had broken out in Shimla. “It has happened during the regime of both Congress and the BJP but that should not be an issue as the concern of one and all is to ensure safe drinking water,” he said.
