Post News Network
Berhampur, June 15: With over 2,000 people in Sambalpur having been affected by jaundice and the disease spreading to Ganjam, Berhampur Municipal Corporation has initiated steps to contain the spread of the disease.
Engineers of public health engineering organisation (PHEO) have been asked to identify leakages in pipelines and replace those immediately in the south Orissa city. “Since contaminated water is the main cause of the outbreak, we have asked the engineers to ensure supply of safe drinking water to denizens,” said commissioner of the corporation Anjana Panda.
Besides quality check at fast food centres, she stressed creating awareness about preventive measures through accredited social health activists (ASHAs).
“The field staff would check water supply pipelines under drains for leakages,” said executive engineer (PHEO), Berhampur, D S Mohapatra.
People have been asked to inform PHEO about leakages through a toll-free number (18003456796), he added. Chief district medical officer CDMO) of Ganjam, Niranjan Behera said health officials are taking all necessary steps to check the spread of jaundice and creating awareness about it.
That apart, the authorities have started removing all makeshift eateries set up over open drains.
A decision to this effect was taken at a general meeting of the BMC Wednesday. Following the demand of corporators seeking removal of eateries on drains, Commissioner Anjana Panda said a special squad would be formed for the purpose.
That apart, sale of ‘chats’ and ‘gupchups’ at crowded places will be stopped.
The process of clearing drains to ensure free-flow of waste water would be taken. Besides, measures would be taken to check vector-borne diseases, Panda added.
The other points in agenda include renovation of ponds at various places under BMC and taking loan from the Orissa Urban Infrastructure Development Fund. Panda informed corporators that the project can get two times the funds it receives as grants from the government if it gets the loan.
The BMC authorities said the Centre had disbursed Rs 9 crore to the civic body nine years ago to renovate 42 ponds in the city. However, renovation of 12 ponds has not been completed. Rs 10 crore was spent for renovation till date.
Issues like solid waste management, housing scheme for the poor and smooth management of transportation system in the city were also discussed in the meeting.