NewsJanuary 15, 2018
SC concerned about arsenic levels in drinking water
LAHORE: A three-member Supreme Court (SC) bench, while hearing a suo motu notice case about provision of clean drinking water in the province, expressed concerns over the alarming levels of arsenic in Punjab’s drinking water.Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Saeed, who appeared before the court at its Lahore registry, was reprimanded by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar over the quality of water in the province. “What the Punjab government is doing for health and education,” the CJ asked. He also inquired about the state and quality of water provided in hospitals, schools and colleges.
He remarked: “Do you know how much arsenic is found in drinking water?” The CJ directed the authorities concerned to inform the court about the quality of drinking water in hospitals, colleges and schools as private institutions are taking hefty fee.
Justice Saqib Nisar also asked the chief secretary to postpone all his activities and accompany the bench for a week while it was hearing cases at the Lahore registry. He said the apex court had made the government act in Karachi and now it was Punjab’s turn.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had summoned Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on a petition pertaining to the supply of potable water and better sanitation across the province at its Karachi registry.
Meanwhile, CJ Mian Saqib Nisar, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Umar Ata Bandial visited the Mayo Hospital where they were briefed by the medical superintendent regarding the facilities being provided at the hospital. The medical superintendent informed the chief justice about the facilities being provided to the patients. He said a filtration plant has been installed in the hospital for providing clean drinking water to the patients.
The CJ said that water filtration plants be installed at the hospital, so patients and their visitors could have safe drinking water on hospital premises. During the trip to the hospital, the chief justice warned the chief secretary that recklessness in the health and education sectors will not be tolerated.
Courtesy www.thenews.com.pk
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