Visakhapatnam: Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has regretted the tragic death of ten persons due to use of contaminated drinking water and announced a `1 lakh compensation to each family from his personal funds.
During an inspection of the affected water bodies on Monday, he emphasized that access to safe drinking water is a fundamental right of each citizen. He criticised the previous administration's “failure” to address sanitation and water quality issues.
The deputy CM highlighted the disparity in resource allocation, noting that while `600 crore was spent on the Rushikonda Palace, essential infrastructure like filter beds for clean drinking water remained neglected.
In response to the Gurla incident, where contamination led to severe health consequences, PK vowed to hold the responsible individuals/ firms accountable and sought immediate action from medical and sanitation departments.
Addressing the media, he noted that many villages across the state faced similar issues due to inadequate sanitation practices and poor management of funds. He said open defecation remained a significant contributor to water contamination, particularly around the Champavati river, and urged local communities to actively participate in sanitation programmes.
To address these challenges, the deputy CM announced that a team of senior IAS officer Vijayanand will probe the Gurla diarrhea outbreak. Funds from the Jala Jeevan Mission have been released to modernize drinking water systems across villages.
During his inspection, PK identified issues with water supply pipes in Gurla village and noted widespread pollution in the Champavati river area due to open defecation and improper waste disposal. He outlined plans for a permanent solution, including beautification of water sources and steps to prevent contamination.
The deputy CM attempted to inspect the Rushikonda Palace but found it locked. He made enquiries with the workers.
