Supriya Sule Blames Mahayuti For Clean Water Crisis Amid GBS Outbreak In Pune
Supriya Sule Blames Mahayuti For Clean Water Crisis Amid GBS Outbreak In Pune
Pune, January 31, 2025 – Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP, Supriya Sule, has sharply criticized the Mahayuti government for its failure to address the clean drinking water crisis amid the ongoing Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) outbreak in Pune. Sule visited affected areas in the city on Thursday, inspecting water sources and speaking with residents who are grappling with the rare neurological disorder linked to contaminated water.
During her visit, Sule emphasized that residents are living in constant fear due to the escalating GBS cases. “I visited the well and the surrounding area to understand the current GBS situation. People in the area are living in tremendous fear,” she said. She described the situation as an “outbreak” of the disease, urging that urgent measures are required to contain its spread.
आपल्या बारामती लोकसभा मतदारसंघातील नांदेड फाटा, पुणे येथील परिसराला पाणीपुरवठा करणाऱ्या विहिरीची पाहणी केली. पुण्यातील या भागात जीबीएस आजाराचा मोठ्या प्रमाणात प्रादुर्भाव झाल्याने नागरिकांमध्ये भीतीचे वातावरण आहे. अनेक लोकांना या आजाराची लागण झाली आहे. प्रदूषित पाण्यामुळे हा आजार… pic.twitter.com/CnITuRuaq9
— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) January 30, 2025
The MP also expressed frustration over the lack of adequate infrastructure to address the crisis. She pointed out that while areas recently brought under the Pune Municipal Corporation’s jurisdiction were facing significant water pollution issues, permissions for new buildings and projects were still being granted despite the absence of crucial facilities like Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs).
Sule criticized the state’s urban planning, labeling it a “failure” that had contributed to the pollution of water sources and the worsening public health situation. “Urban planning failure has led to increasing pollution, whether it be water or air, and consequently, diseases are on the rise,” she added. Sule called for scientific investigations into the cause of the GBS outbreak and urged the government to focus on the contamination of rivers and dams.
Despite being in opposition, Sule reiterated her party’s willingness to cooperate with the government on resolving the issue. “We are ready to cooperate with the government to address these pressing concerns,” she said, while demanding that the government cover the medical expenses of GBS patients, blaming the “flawed management” for the disease’s spread.
Following her visit, Sule took to social media to further criticize the state administration. On X (formerly Twitter), she wrote, “An outbreak of GBS disease has been detected between Rajaram Bridge and Khadakwasla in Pune. Due to this, many people are sick, and some are in critical condition. It seems that the disease is spreading due to contaminated water. It is very regrettable that this government is not able to provide at least clean drinking water to the people.”
She called on the Pune Municipal Commissioner, Pune District Collector, and the Guardian Minister to take swift action to ensure clean water access, stressing the urgency of the situation.
The number of GBS cases continues to rise, with the Maharashtra Public Health Department’s report on Wednesday revealing that 127 suspected cases have been recorded across the state, with 72 confirmed cases. Of these, 23 patients are from Pune Municipal Corporation limits, and 73 from newly included villages in the PMC. In total, 20 patients are on ventilator support, and two deaths are suspected to be related to the outbreak.
Health experts have linked the surge in GBS cases to contaminated water, as the disease is commonly triggered by bacterial or viral infections that weaken the immune system. In response, the Maharashtra government has deployed health teams to the affected areas to investigate the source of contamination and control the outbreak. Residents have been advised to boil water before use to minimize the risk of infection.
