The Tribune Impact: Rights panel seeks report over failure of 65% water samples in Muktsar

The Punjab State Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of the critical water quality issue in Muktsar district, following a report published in The Tribune on Monday titled “65% water samples fail potability test in Muktsar.”

The Commission has directed the Secretary of the Punjab Health Department to submit a detailed report on the matter before the next hearing, which is scheduled for May 26.

The Tribune report brought attention to the fact that nearly 65% of water samples in Muktsar district had failed potability tests in the first three months of 2025.

Of the 51 water samples collected from various locations across the district, only 18 were found to be safe for human consumption, while the remaining 33 were found non-potable due to bacterial contamination or other impurities.

In its order, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission noted that it had reviewed the news report, which had gone viral on social media under the caption “65% water samples fail potability test in Muktsar”, indicating that the district is grappling with a severe water quality crisis.

The water samples were tested at the Punjab State Public Health Laboratory in Kharar, which confirmed the presence of bacterial contamination and other impurities in the majority of the samples.