BENGALURU:As many as 98 persons took ill after they consumed contaminated water supplied to them at Chinnenahalli village of Midageshi hobli in Tumakuru district on Thursday and taking note of the incident, Minister of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Priyank Kharge placed assistant executive engineer under suspension along with Chinnenahalli Gram Panchayat secretary.
The action against the assistant executive engineer and Panchayat secretary came after a direction from the Minister for Rural Development Priyank Kharge on May 27, this year wherein he asked the officials concerned of Zilla Panchayat and department of Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation department to conduct periodical inspection of water supply and ensure potable drinking water to the residents.
Of the 98 affected persons, 39 villagers have been treated at taluk and district hospitals and other villagers returned after treatment administered at the village. A six bed emergency centre had been opened at the village to monitor the health of the villagers.
Meanwhile, water supply to the village from bore-wells and water storage tanks has come to a halt. Arrangements have been made by the officials of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj to supply water to the village through two tankers, as of now.
As a precautionary measure, a team of doctors have been stationed at the village to press into service in case of an emergency. Water samples have been collected and subjected to laboratory tests.
