Barwani (Madhya Pradesh): Rajya Sabha MP Sumer Singh Solanki objected to the controversial statement made by Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar on the purity level of Narmada water, saying that experts have proved that Narmada water is one of the purest in India. Patkar had claimed that Narmada water is not safe to drink and causes diseases like skin diseases, kidney stones and cancer.

Solanki refuted Patkar’s claims, saying she was neither a lab technician nor an expert in the field. He accused her of misleading people and taking political advantage of the issue. “Medha Patkar is neither a lab technician nor a great expert. I want to say that experts have proved that Narmada has more pure water than any other river in India,” Solanki said.

Patkar, however, stuck to her statement and claimed that the water was completely polluted as there were no sewage treatment plants and industrial waste from towns like Barwani and Jabalpur was being dumped into the river. She also pointed out that the government’s plan to conduct a cruise on the Narmada would only add to the pollution and threaten the source of drinking water. “The water of the Narmada is not potable,” Patkar said in an interview.

Medha Patkar | FP Photo

“Many people suffer from skin diseases, intestinal diseases, cancer and kidney stones. Pollution comes from urban waste, industrial areas and illegal sand mining, which disrupts the water cycle and causes water levels to drop in summer.”

The debate raises questions about the true state of Narmada water and the impact of human activities on the environment. While Patkar’s warnings about the dangers of pollution are timely, Solanki’s counter-claims have further complicated the issue. One thing is certain: the fate of Narmada water and the people who depend on it is at stake. The government’s response to the issue is being closely watched as it could affect the lives of millions of people.