Chandigarh Mayor Demands Urgent Action Following Tragic Child Death Linked to Water and Sanitation Failures
In a decisive response to a recent tragedy, Chandigarh Mayor Saurabh Joshi has issued a strong call for immediate preventive measures to tackle severe sanitation and drinking water problems in the Mauli Jagran area. This urgent appeal comes directly after a TOI report highlighted the heartbreaking death of an eight-year-old girl, which has been connected to the dire living conditions in the locality.
Critical Infrastructure Failures Exposed
The mayor's directive specifically references the alarming findings in the report, which detailed a cascade of public health hazards. Contaminated and frequently disrupted water supply has left residents vulnerable, compounded by chronic sewage overflow that poses a constant threat. Adding to the crisis, multiple tubewells in the area are non-functional, severely limiting access to clean water.
These infrastructure failures have had a direct and devastating impact on community health. Cases of water-borne diseases including jaundice, typhoid, and hepatitis have been reported, painting a grim picture of the risks faced by residents, particularly young children.
Mayor Joshi's Comprehensive Action Plan
Mayor Saurabh Joshi has outlined a multi-pronged approach to address this emergency. His demands include:
- Urgent restoration of water infrastructure to ensure a reliable and safe supply.
- Immediate cleaning of all sewage lines to prevent overflow and contamination.
- Establishment of interim arrangements to provide safe drinking water to affected families without delay.
Furthermore, the mayor emphasized the need for close coordination with the health department. This collaboration is deemed essential to provide necessary medical support to those already affected and to implement robust preventive actions to curb the spread of disease.
A Systemic Issue Requiring Accountability
Mayor Joshi's concerns extend beyond Mauli Jagran. He pointed to similar complaints and issues emerging from other sectors, notably Sector 49 and Dhanas, indicating a potentially wider systemic problem within the city's municipal services.
In his statement, he explicitly instructed the Municipal Corporation (MC) to fix accountability for these failures and to carry out necessary systemic corrections. He stressed that access to clean water and proper sanitation is not a privilege but a fundamental right and must remain an unwavering priority for the administration.
"The safety and well-being of our citizens, especially our children, cannot be compromised," Mayor Joshi stated firmly. "Preventive action, responsiveness, and strict accountability are absolutely essential to ensure that such tragic incidents are never repeated."
This incident has cast a harsh spotlight on urban infrastructure challenges and public health governance in Chandigarh, prompting calls for swift and transparent action to protect vulnerable communities.
