Post News Network
Berhampur, Feb 21: In addition to the ban on the sale of ‘gupchups’ which was enforced here February 16, ban on sale of water pouches and non-recommended polythenes have been proposed in the new action plan by Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) to stop the spread of jaundice in the city.
Stringent measures have been taken to stop sale of water pouches in the city. Vehicles carrying pouched water to the city are being checked at the entry gates since Saturday, BMC Commissioner Anjana Panda said.
“That apart, a ban order has been issued on the use of non-recommended polythenes,” she added.
Meanwhile, the ban on sale of ‘gupchups’ in the city has caused the loss of occupation to over 50 vendors. A group of ‘gupchup’ vendors met Panda Friday and requested her to withdraw the ban order. She, however, advised them to sell fruits to earn livelihood till the ban is enforced.
The BMC officials have also been deployed to check the food items sold at fast food centres. A six-bed jaundice ward has been opened in the City Hospital under the plan, pointed out Panda. The plan, which was finalised Friday, emphasises repair of water pipelines and awareness drive.
In accordance with the plan, the BMC has started the process of cleaning the drains. Within the next 15 days, 385 km of drains in the city will be cleared. While 150 km is ‘pucca’ drain, the rest is ‘kutcha’.
An organisation will be given the contract of cleaning the drains, for which `7 lakh has been estimated. The BMC has requested the state government to sanction the money, said Panda. While BMC would engage its own employees in the cleaning activity, earth moving machines are required to clean big drains, she pointed out. Immediate measures would be taken to repair the water supply pipelines. The public health and engineering department has sent a proposal of `4 lakh to the state government for the repairing work. Another proposal of `125 crore has been sent for permanent renovation of pipelines.
ASHA and Anganwadi workers have been involved in the awareness drive since Friday. They have been asked to generate awareness about the water-borne disease in 14 identified slums of the city and also create awareness about the use of boiled water for consumption.
