Taking a serious view of his nonresponsive attitude, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued conditional summons to the Khordha Collector-cum-District Magistrate (DM) for personal appearance on April 19.
However, the apex human rights body observed that his personal appearance shall be dispended with if the requisite report is received on or before April 12.
Acting on a petition filed by rights campaigner Subash Mohapatra, the apex rights body issued the conditional summon under section 13 of the Human Rights Protection Act to DM Niranjan Sahu.
The matter pertains to allegations of death of eight persons due to denial of safe drinking water in Singpur and Balsingh villages in Bolagarh block of Khordha district.
“Pursuant to the directions of the rights body, the DM submitted a report along with some annexure which were not legible. He was requested to submit a legible copy of report but in vain,” Mohapatra lamented.
“There are 68 deaths reported in last five years. During 11 months from October 2013 to August 2014, eight persons died due denial of safe drinking water. The villagers have approached authorities for safe drinking water repeatedly for several times, but nothing tangible happened,” the petitioner contended.
“The mid-day-meal in the Balsingh Upper Primary School is cooked with contaminated fluoride water and served to students which have threatened their lives. All of them are being affected. No medical care and treatment is provided to them,” Mohapatra had alleged.