Dehradun. Uttaranchal Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has moved swiftly to penalise six senior engineers after residents of Jyolikot in Nainital district complained of polluted drinking water. The district administration’s investigation implicated staff from both the Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan and the Drinking Water Corporation, leading to immediate suspension for alleged dereliction of duty.
The problem surfaced when villagers reported foul‑tasting, discoloured water flowing from taps in Jyolikot. Responding to the outcry, the CM ordered a thorough probe and instructed senior officials to pinpoint responsibility. The findings, submitted by the Nainital district office, prompted decisive disciplinary measures against the six engineers.
The suspended cadre includes the Superintending Engineer (in‑charge) of Jal Sansthan, Haldwani, an Assistant Engineer and an Additional Assistant Engineer attached to Nainital Jal Sansthan, as well as the Executive Engineer, the Assistant Engineer (in‑charge) and a Junior Engineer from the Drinking Water Corporation, Bhimtal.
In addition, the Executive Engineer of Nainital Jal Sansthan received a formal warning, with the administration making clear that any further negligence will attract harsher penalties.
CM Dhami Issues a Stark Warning on Public‑Health Negligence
“Safeguarding public health is non‑negotiable for this government,” the chief minister asserted, adding that any laxity in matters affecting citizens’ well‑being will be met with zero tolerance.
He urged department heads and senior officers to handle public‑service complaints with heightened responsibility, urgency, and empathy, ensuring that essential services are restored without delay.
This move follows a recent CM directive that led to action in the NEET UG 2026 state‑centralised counselling controversy, where eight candidates had their fraudulent admission certificates cancelled.
‘Public Interest Remains Paramount’
“We will not hesitate to act against any official who disregards the public interest,” Dhami emphasized. “Public health cannot be compromised under any circumstances. All department leaders have been repeatedly reminded of this priority.”
