Virbhadra accuses media of exaggerating jaundice cases

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today accused the media of "exaggerating" the number of jaundice cases here even as the BJP demanded the resignation of Irrigation and Public Health Minister Vidya Stokes, Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Shimla Municipal Corporation for "supplying"contaminated water to the residents.
"Occurrence of jaundice cases in Shimla was blown out of proportion and the outbreak of the disease was magnified as an epidemic," the Chief Minister said.
Virbhadra, however, said, "indeed there had been some laxity in supply of water and the matter was being investigated by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and action would be taken against those found guilty of dereliction of duty and negligence."

The contractor, executive engineer and some other officials had been arrested and investigations are in progress, Virbhadra said, adding "The whole department cannot be blamed for negligence if some persons sneeze or cough."
The Chief Minister claimed that some people had build houses upstream the Ashwani Khud water supply scheme which was not and within Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) limits and sewage flew into the khud, causing contamination of water.
Meanwhile, BJP in Shimla demanded resignation of Irrigation and Public Health Minister Vidya Stokes, Mayor and Deputy Mayor of SMC Sanjay Chauhan and Tikender Panwar for "supplying"contaminated water to the residents.

The BJP activists today sat on fast in front of Deputy Commissioner's office to protest against "failure of the government to contain the spread of jaundice" in the state capital.

Addressing the party workers, party spokesman Ganesh Dutt claimed so far 15,000 cases of jaundice have occurred but thedepartments concerned are passing the blame on each other.
Holding the Government and SMC "responsible" for the spread of the disease and deaths, Dutt asked the government to give adequate compensation to the victims and warned that in case compensation was not paid, the BJP would be forced to launch an agitation.

Today's fast was observed with the hope that wisdom would dawn on SMC and Irrigation and Public Health Department and in case they did not wake up from slumber, the BJP would resort to relay hunger strike, he added.