Dehradun – Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has moved swiftly against six senior engineers after residents of Jyolikot, Nainital, complained of polluted drinking water. A detailed report from the district administration implicated officials from both the Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan and the Drinking Water Corporation, leading to immediate suspensions for alleged dereliction of duty.

Investigation triggers disciplinary measures

The water‑quality issue surfaced when villagers raised alarms about foul‑tasting, discoloured water flowing from their taps. Responding to the outcry, the chief minister instructed senior bureaucrats to launch a probe and pinpoint accountability. The district‑level inquiry concluded that lapses in monitoring and maintenance had allowed contamination to reach consumers, prompting the suspension of six engineers.

Officials placed on hold

  • Superintending Engineer (in‑charge), Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan, Haldwani
  • Assistant Engineer, Nainital Jal Sansthan
  • Additional Assistant Engineer, Nainital Jal Sansthan
  • Executive Engineer, Drinking Water Corporation, Bhimtal
  • Assistant Engineer (in‑charge), Drinking Water Corporation, Bhimtal
  • Junior Engineer, Drinking Water Corporation, Bhimtal

The Executive Engineer of Nainital Jal Sansthan received a formal warning and has been told that any further negligence will attract harsher penalties.

“Public health cannot be compromised at any cost. The welfare of the people is our top priority, and any officer who neglects this will face strict action,” CM Dhami affirmed.

Government’s broader stance on public‑service lapses

Dhami emphasized that safeguarding citizens’ health remains a non‑negotiable objective for his administration. He directed department heads and senior officials to adopt a more proactive, sensitive approach when dealing with essential‑service complaints, ensuring swift remediation.

This decisive step follows a recent directive from the chief minister concerning the NEET UG 2026 state‑centralised counselling controversy, where eight candidates had their admission certificates revoked for falsified documents.

Message to the bureaucracy

“Public interest is paramount,” the chief minister reiterated. “Any official who turns a blind eye to the needs of the people will be held accountable.”