Gujarat Assembly Speaker Censures Congress MLA Over Display of Contaminated Water Bottle
In a dramatic incident during the Gujarat Legislative Assembly's question hour on Friday, Speaker Shankar Chaudhary censured Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar for displaying a bottle that he claimed contained contaminated water. The confrontation unfolded amid a heated debate over alleged chemical pollution of groundwater near a waste processing facility in Mahisagar district.
Debate Over Groundwater Contamination Sparks Controversy
The controversy began when Congress Legislative Party leader Tushar Chaudhary sought details from the government regarding alleged chemical contamination of groundwater around the waste processing site operated by Maurya Enviro Projects at Jamiyatpura in Mahisagar district. This inquiry highlighted growing concerns about environmental safety and public health in the region.
In response, Minister of State for Forests and Environment Pravin Mali provided official data, stating that five complaints were received in 2024 and 2025 regarding alleged contamination of wells in the surrounding areas. However, he emphasized that analysis of water samples did not indicate any widespread or permanent deterioration of groundwater quality, suggesting the issue might be localized or temporary.
MLA's Dramatic Demonstration Draws Speaker's Ire
As the discussion progressed, Independent MLA Dhavalsinh Zala intervened, supporting the Congress's concerns by stating that local residents had made numerous complaints to authorities about pollution caused by the waste processing site. It was at this juncture that Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar stood up and produced a small bottle filled with a brown liquid.
Parmar showed the bottle to the speaker, claiming it contained water collected from a well near the dumping site just a few days earlier. He asserted that his intention was to demonstrate the ground reality faced by residents in the affected villages, providing tangible evidence of the alleged contamination.
Speaker's Strong Objection and Official Ruling
The display of the bottle triggered immediate and strong objection from Speaker Shankar Chaudhary, who expressed clear displeasure over such an act inside the legislative chamber. In his official ruling, Chaudhary asked Parmar to refrain from similar demonstrations in the future, emphasizing the need to maintain decorum and proper parliamentary procedures.
The speaker directed sergeants to take the bottle away, effectively ending the visual demonstration while allowing the substantive debate on environmental concerns to continue through proper channels. This incident underscores the tension between legislative protocol and lawmakers' efforts to highlight pressing public issues through dramatic means.
Broader Implications for Environmental Governance
This confrontation brings to light significant questions about environmental monitoring, public accountability, and legislative oversight in Gujarat. While the government maintains that water quality analysis shows no permanent contamination, the concerns raised by opposition and independent MLAs suggest ongoing disputes over environmental standards and corporate responsibility.
The incident also highlights the challenges faced by legislators in balancing parliamentary decorum with the need to effectively represent constituents' grievances, particularly on sensitive issues like water safety that directly impact public health and agricultural livelihoods.
