While the ruling Mahayuti government is under fire due to the sudden rise in Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) cases in Pune, the state ministers have made some promises to the public to quell their anger.
State health minister Prakash Abitkar said the government will introduce a law to ensure people get clean drinking water and fine entities that contaminate and pollute water.
"We plan to introduce a law that will fine entities that contribute to water pollution and contamination. The new law will ensure common people get clean drinking water through their respective civic and local bodies. We will be bringing the draft of the bill in the upcoming budget session," Abitkar said.
"Several agencies, including an expert team from the Centre, the World Health Organisation, and the state health department, are working in tandem on various aspects of the disease and ensuring that such cases do not spread in the future. Now that it is confirmed that the outbreak was triggered by waterborne bacteria, responsibility will be fixed and action taken," he asserted.
Abitkar said the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been directed to ensure proper chlorination of water in the Nanded village area, which has seen a high number of GBS cases.
"Comprehensive monitoring is being done in Nanded village to ensure clean water is supplied. Teams were assigned to collect water samples from multiple sources, including sewage released by resorts located on the upper side of Khadakwasla dam. They are also verifying whether the contamination was triggered by poultry farms located on the upper side of Khadakwasla," the minister said.
Meanwhile, state finance minister Ajit Pawar, who is also Pune's guardian minister, said the state government and the PMC will jointly take up a Rs 500 crore water supply project.
"It is the responsibility of the PMC and the state government to provide clean and safe drinking water to its citizens. A Rs 500 crore water supply project has been approved for the affected area of Sinhagad Road, in which the state will fund Rs 250 crore and the PMC will spend Rs 250 crore," said Pawar.
GBS is a rare condition in which a person's immune system attacks the peripheral nerves, resulting in muscle weakness, loss of sensation in the legs and/or arms, as well as problems with swallowing or breathing.
Severe cases can result in near-total paralysis. GBS is more common in adults and in males, though people of all ages can be affected.
