Madhya Pradesh [India], January 2 : BJP Councillor (Ward 11), Kamal Waghela, on Friday stated that four more water supplies have been provided since the outbreak of contaminated water took place, adding that "we are drinking that water only."
Waghela, speaking to ANI, said that the issue of contaminated water has been resolved, urging people to drink tap water after boiling.
"The incident happened last Friday... All of us are drinking only that water... There is no problem yet...we have ensured four more supplies of water since. It can be consumed, but we recommend drinking tap water only after boiling," the Councillor said.
Further informing on the death toll of the crisis, Waghela said that officials have been visiting the hospital regularly.
"This crisis has been going on for 8 days... On record, as per our information, 15 people have died. We are regularly going to the hospital," he added.
Responding to the sample reports of the contaminated water indicating the presence of bacteria, Waghela said, "All expected factors are being evaluated."
"We are actively working on identifying the root cause of contamination and will resolve the issue as early as possible," Waghela said.
Earlier in the day, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh expressed his concerns over the Indore water contamination issue in which five people have been reported dead and over 200 have been hospitalised, saying that "this wasn't a one-day incident."
Speaking to ANI, the AAP MP condemned state cabinet minister Kailash Vijayvargiya over his inappropriate remarks to a journalist on being questioned about public health issues.
Singh said, "It is a matter of great shame and pain that even after so many years of independence, 20 people are dying in this country from drinking contaminated water... The deaths of 20 people seem like a trivial matter to the minister..."
Referring to the announcement by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav regarding compensation to the family of the deceased, reiterated by Vijayvargiya, Sanjay Singh said, "Can you compensate for the death of someone's family member due to administrative lapses with money? How is it fair?"
He further alleged that the complaints over contaminated water have been prevalent in the state, which has now snowballed into a pandemic.