CHANDIGARH: In the light of the directions of the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann to take necessary steps with regard to check the spread of Diarrhoea in some towns of the State, the Chief Secretary Mr Anurag Verma today reviewed the situation in a meeting with all the Deputy Commissioners.
Mr Verma made it clear that the onus of ensuring the good health of every resident of the State lies with the Government and there would be zero tolerance for any laxity in this regard. Mr Verma further said that in case a new sample fails, then the officer responsible for water supply in the area concerned would be strictly proceeded against. He further added that the Health Department has released a sum of Rs. 2 Lakh for large districts and Rs. 1 Lakh for small districts concerning the purchase of testing kits for the purpose of checking drinking water samples. The Principal Secretary Water Supply & Sanitation on the occasion divulged that a total of Rs. 25 Lakh have been released for testing kits.
The Deputy Commissioners during the meeting apprised that the certificates have been received from field officers regarding supply of clean drinking water in all the areas. Mr Verma said that it should be ensured that the water available for drinking must be 100 percent clean and wherever the water is found contaminated, severe action would be taken against the officers responsible.
During the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary Local Government said that a charge sheet has been issued to the EO, JE , Sanitary and Chief Sanitary Inspector of Patran in Patiala District. Similarly, the Chief Secretary has directed the DC Mohali to initiate due legal action in the matter of the non-cleaning of water tanks in Kharar. The Chief Secretary further directed the DCs to personally visit the areas such as the slums where the cases of Diarrhoea have been reported and ensure the clean and hygienic conditions. Likewise, the District Health Officers must make sure that the quality of open fruits being sold, drinking and edible products is up to the mark. Apart from this, a campaign is also being waged to spread awareness amongst the people regarding importance of cleanliness and hygiene.
The Health Secretary disclosed that after the directions of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the number of water samples has been doubled and new directions in this connection have been issued. Now in big cities, 400 samples, middle level cities 300 and in small cities 200 samples are being taken for testing. He also added that after July 17th barring one or two places, no new case has been reported in the State. Full vigil is being exercised to ensure that no new case comes. The Chief Secretary also gave directions to the Water Supply & Sanitation and Rural Development & Panchayat Department to carry out this exercise in the rural areas too.
Mr. Verma further said that the Health Department is providing adequate and free treatment to the persons who have taken ill and has provided more than 10 Lakh tablets of chlorine free of cost to the Health Department. The Chief Secretary also directed the DCs to monitor the situation on daily basis and implement the above directions in all strictness.
Among others present on the occasion included the Additional Chief Secretary (Local Government) D.K. Tiwari, Principal Secretary Water Supply & Sanitation Nilkanth S. Avhad, Administrative Secretary Health Priyank Bharti, Health Secretary Dr. Abhinav, CEO Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board Malwinder Singh Jaggi, Director Local Government Uma Shankar Gupta, the DCs of all the districts, Commissioners of the Municipal Corporations, ADCs (Urban Development), Civil Surgeons and EOs of the Municipalities.