Activists have questioned the extreme secrecy surrounding the sample test report of the Narmada water. It should be noted that the water in the Sardar Sarovar Dam reservoir had turned black and water supply to 138 villages in Narmada and Chhota Udepur district had been discontinued in the beginning of February.
While preliminary report of the sample by Gujarat Water Supply and Sewage Board (GWSSB) had indicated presence of sulphide in the water, the authorities had later said that that the water had high level of bacteria but met all other parameters.
"We have written to the department to show us the report of the samples. If the reports are fine why is the secrecy around it. Moreover, the department within two days restored the water supply with the warning that the people should take adequate precaution because it had high level of bacteria,"said Mahesh Pandya of Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti at a press conference.
Panday an environmental activist also alleged that the GWSSB has also happily embraced the permissible limit for different parameters for drinking water instead of the standard limit. "Under the stanards for drinking water issued by the Centre, the standard limit for total dissolved solids is 500 mg/I but the permissible limit is 2000 mg/I. But what the board has not clarified is that the permissible limit can be only accepted in absence of any alternative source and that too subject to some conditions," said Pandya. He said the government was thus relying on the permissible limit for drinking water and washing its hands of providing quality water to the people.
He said that the government claims that Narmada waters reach 9083 villages and 166 cities serving 4 crore people of the state. "Then it is surprising that water in the reservoir, when found to have high bacterial content, is released for drinking purpose with just a warning from the state. The state expects the users to take remedial measures and instead of doing it themselves," said Hemantkumar Shah, an economist professor.
