Bhopal, Feb 20 (NationPress) The tragic incident of water contamination in Indore's Bhagirathpura became the focal point of discussion in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly on Friday, marking the fifth day of the budget session. This led to a heated confrontation between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition Congress during an adjournment motion initiated by Congress members amidst the ongoing budget discussions.

The Assembly Speaker, Narendra Singh Tomar, stated that although the matter was under judicial review and typically such discussions are avoided during budget sessions, the gravity of the situation warranted discussion with the consent of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

State Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya described the occurrence as “extremely serious and unfortunate, a concern for everyone.”

He acknowledged that despite complaints from residents and calls for tenders, development work was stalled. This prompted Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to establish a committee that pinpointed negligent officials, leading to actions including the removal of the Bhopal Commissioner and suspensions.

Minister Vijayvargiya underscored Indore's exemplary cleanliness record, stating, “Indore has turned cleanliness into a culture, significantly contributing to the Swachh Bharat Mission.”

He characterized the area as similar to a “miniature version of Mumbai's Dharavi,” where municipal access is challenging.

Reflecting on his reaction to the water contamination deaths, Minister Vijayvargiya shared he was en route to Mathura with his family when he learned of the tragedy, promptly returning to Indore on February 29 via an emergency flight.

He coordinated with Indore Divisional Commissioner Sudam Khade, admitting 200-250 victims affected by the water contamination incident to private hospitals overnight, despite initial hesitance, ensuring payments, and distributing two tons of coconut water.

Minister Vijayvargiya reported that despite rapid state government efforts involving 150 social workers, doctors, and paramedics conducting house-to-house surveys, “22 lives were lost” in this unfortunate water contamination tragedy.

He criticized the Opposition for politicizing this tragic event, remarking that slogans like “zindabad-murdabad” at the site were “inappropriate” and fostered resentment.

Veteran Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state Assembly, Umang Singhar, accused the state government of withholding information regarding the water contamination tragedy, asserting media reports indicated 35 fatalities.

LoP Singhar stated, “The state government aims to conceal the data.”

Referencing Article 21 of the Constitution, LoP Singhar emphasized that clean water is as essential to the right to life, as per Supreme Court rulings, adding, “If we cannot discuss the right to water and right to life, then what can we discuss?”

He highlighted personal water audits in areas like Khajrana, Rau, Budi Tekri, and others, discovering “countless bacteria” in water samples, citing a 2019 Pollution Control Board report where 59 out of 60 water samples in the city failed, with no follow-up actions taken.

LoP Singhar demanded Indian Penal Code (IPC) charges against responsible officials, questioning why senior government officials were transferred while junior officials, often from marginalized communities, faced suspensions.

He criticized the lack of transparency regarding the tragic event, asking, “Why doesn’t the state government publish every action plan and investigation report online? The plan is for the public, not for Ministers, contractors, or commission agents.”

He cited a letter from a BJP Councillor dated February 29, 2024, warning of contaminated Narmada water lines following a child’s death, cautioning similar risks in Jabalpur, Ujjain, and Chambal's Valiyar, particularly with ₹13,000 crore allocated for Simhastha Mela preparations—advocating for clean water over “dipping saints in polluted water.”

Jabalpur East MLA Lakhan Ghanghoriya underscored statewide issues, presenting contaminated water samples from 13 locations in Jabalpur, including the city Mayor’s residence area, tested via H2S kits indicating pollution.

He lamented the state government’s “insensitivity and cruelty,” urging the Opposition to serve as a mirror to spotlight systemic failures.

Hemant Katare of Congress advocated for higher compensation for the victims’ families, aligning with Congress's broader demand for the state government to acknowledge the true death toll, which they claim is closer to 35 rather than the officially recognized 22.

He stressed that the state government should not only provide financial assistance but also take accountability for the systemic failures that allowed contaminated water to infiltrate households.

A Congress member, Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat, pointedly remarked that while Minister Vijayvargiya praised Indore as if it were a “City of Gold,” the reality is that lives were lost due to contaminated water in the city.

He reminded Minister Vijayvargiya that he had been in power for decades and thus bore responsibility for the systemic lapses.

Other Congress members echoed this sentiment, asserting that the state government's claims of success sounded hollow against the backdrop of such a man-made disaster.

They accused the BJP-led state government of attempting to deflect blame and transforming this tragedy into a political spectacle rather than concentrating on accountability and prevention.

Congress members highlighted the contradiction between Indore’s acclaimed cleanliness rankings and the harsh reality of recent fatalities caused by contaminated water.