Can't do much if water samples in govt schools failed: Health minister

JALANDHAR: Expressing his inability to address the issue of contaminated water supply in 20 government schools of Jalandhar, state health minister Madan Mohan Mittal on Friday said he could not do anything as the role of his department begins only in case of students falling ill.
"I can't do anything in this. I have nothing to do if the water samples from schools have failed.The responsibility lies with the department responsible for supplying water to schools. Our department has no responsibility," Mittal said, when asked about the issue after he attended a function to save the girl child in Jalandhar on Friday.
Water samples from these schools were taken in May by the health department officials and reports suggesting contamination came in the first week of June. The civil surgeon had sent the reports to the Jalandhar deputy commissioner and water supply and sanitation department of the municipal corporation in June, but little was done to address the issue. Students continued to drink the contaminated water after the schools opened in the first week of July.
Incidentally, 19 of these 20 schools fall under Jalandhar MC area. The officials are now trying to ascertain whether the supply line or water tanks were contaminated.