Gandhinagar: Gujarat government today rejected the reports that the water supplied through Narmada dam has become infected with bacteria and pollutants and was not good for drinking.

Principal Secretary of Water Supply department J P Gupta today told newsmen here that there was no truth in the reports that the water being supplied from Sardar Sarovar Narmada dam was not drinkable. He said that the deaths of fishes were due to local reasons and there were no chemicals in the water. The water was certainly safe for drinking and other uses.

Notably, a large number of fishes were found dead in the dam on January 30 last after which it was said that it has happened due to rise in pollutants in the water and lowering of oxygen level.

Some local media reports claimed that the water was causing foul smell and that it has failed the bacterial test.

Notably, as Narmada dam situated in Kevadiya in Central Gujarat is the main water source for Gujarat and is seen as the water supply life line of the state, the reports about the alleged pollution in its water has caused concerns among people. The dam supplies drinking water to 3 crore people or almost half the population of the state.

DeshGujarat