Post News Network
Rayagada, June 24: A recent government notification for action against officials responsible for spread of jaundice due to supply of water through leaky or cracked pipes, seems to have no impact on district administration and the public health department (PHD) here.
According to reports, water supply is still continuing through cracked pipes in Gandhi Nagar, Chekaguda, UGMIT Road, New Colony and a road leading to collectorate after the rain lashed the town for the last few days. While some distribution points were found uncovered, the drain water is mixing up with drinking water at several places leaving the citizens vulnerable to jaundice. Though the matter has been raised with the departmental engineers on several occasions but in vain, locals alleged.
When contacted, PHD’s junior engineer Amiya Kumar Sethi said he would personally visit the places Thursday and put covers on the distribution points. The cracked pipes too would be replaced soon, he added.
Executive engineer Nabakishore Samal of the department said new pipes have been laid in several areas of the town and works are in progress in some other places. The pipes of the areas from which complaints have been received would be repaired on a war-footing, Samal informed.
According to government records, 42 people had died of jaundice and over 1,000 affected in Sambalur due to water supply through leaked pipes recently. Some more jaundice casualties were reported in Khurda, Cuttack, Nayagarh and Bolangir district after people consumed contaminated water supplied through cracked pipes.
In the wake of the outbreak, the state government, through a notification, warned of action against the executive engineers of PHD department of those districts if they found guilty of supplying contaminated water through leaky pipes.
