Rourkela: The Eastern Zone Bench of the National Green Tribunal in Kolkata has taken suo-moto cognisance of the diarrhoea outbreak in Rourkela in the first week of December 2023. The apex green body has taken cognisance based on a news report published in a reputed English national daily December 21, 2023, which mentioned the order. The tribunal has issued notices to six persons in this regard and allowed them four weeks to submit counter-affidavits. The order of the NGT mentioned that based on the report ‘6 dead and 1000 affected in suspected cholera outbreak’ the green body took the matter into cognisance.
A bench comprising Justice B Amit Sthalekar, judicial member and expert member Arun Kumar Verma issued notice to District Magistrate (DM), Sundargarh; Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Rourkela; Commissioner, Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC); Member Secretary, Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB); Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Member Secretary, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). “Let notice be issued to the above respondents for filing their response before the Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata at least one week before the next date of hearing,” the bench said.
The order mentioned, “The disease is suspected to be caused by water contamination leading to severe health complications among the affected populace. Six places in Rourkela have been identified as hotspots for diarrhoea infection.
As per the said report, it is suspected that the infection has spread through a rupture in water supply pipes.” “Hence, in the circumstance of the case, we deem it proper to implead the following as respondents in this original application,” the order said. Papiya Banarjee is representing the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) while the rest of the respondents are being represented by SK Nayak, the additional government advocate.
All the respondents will have to file their counter affidavits within four weeks. In the first week of December 2023, Rourkela witnessed a horrific outbreak of cholera. This caused a huge embarrassment for the state government. The outbreak, as per the government’s admission, claimed 18 lives and left thousands affected. The outbreak was due to contaminated water consumed by the affected persons. The state government constituted an enquiry committee to look into the case and submit its report. So far, nothing has been made public regarding the findings of the expert committee.