Uproar in AP legislative council over deaths due to diarrhoea

The 46^th session of the legislative council began with Question Hour on Wednesday, with chairman Koyye Moshenu Raju presiding over the proceedings. MLCs P.V.V. Suryanarayana Raju, Varudu Kalyani, Mondikota Aruna Kumar sought details of the deaths due to diarrhoea. They wanted to know measures the state government has taken to control diarrhoea and whether there is any proposal to provide ex-gratia to the kin of deceased.

Health minister Satya Kumar Yadav responded with a “no” to the query whether many people had died due to diarrhoea. He, however, said 18 people had died because of diarrhoea, including four from Gurla mandal in Vizianagaram district.

Leader of opposition Botsa Satyanarayana objected to the minister's reply, saying it is improper and satirical even though several people have died.

YSRC MLC Kalyani alleged that the TD-led coalition government had failed in dealing with the diarrhoea cases.

In his detailed reply, the minister said the water of Champa River had got polluted due to people upstream resorting to open defecation because of lack of toilets in Gurla mandal of Vizianagaram district. Further, pipelines supplying drinking water had become old and developed leaks. The water had not been properly chlorinated.

Satya Kumar said presence of faecal matter in the water had led to diarrhoea. He pointed out that earlier too, 25,994 diarrhoea cases had been reported in 2019 and 18,965 in 2020 in Vizianagaram district.

The minister maintained that their government had initiated all requisite measures like chlorination of water sources and treatment of those affected by diarrhoea. He assured to look into the issue of providing ex-gratia to the kin of the deceased. He underlined that so far, no ex-gratia has been provided in diarrhoea cases.

However, the leader of opposition declared that he represented Cheepurupalli assembly segment for nearly 15 years and had provided protected drinking water schemes to every village. He blamed the state government for failing to maintain the drinking water supply properly after coming to power in June.

Intervening into the issue, agriculture minister K. Atchannaidu faulted the previous YSR Congress government for not releasing funds to gram panchayats, municipalities and municipal corporations in the last five years. He retorted that not even a fistful of bleaching powder had been given for maintenance of sanitation in villages.

Atchannaidu asserted that their government is strengthening gram panchayats, municipalities and municipal corporations with regard to supply of potable water and maintenance of sanitation. He underlined that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu felt pained following the death of people due to diarrhoea in the state.

As Satya Kumar Yadav and Satyanarayana started trading charges, council chairman Moshenu Raju tried to bring the house into order.

But YSRC members trooped into the well and started raising slogans. Thereafter, the leader of opposition announced that their party members are boycotting the house and led the walkout.