Taking stock of the alarming jaundice situation in Cuttack city, the Central division Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) AB Ota on Wednesday directed the district administration to change all the broken drinking water pipelines within one month. Similarly, the RDC also directed the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) to de-silt all the drains of the city by May 15 positively.

Admitting the fact that contaminated drinking water and unhygienic environment in some parts of the city are the causes of jaundice outbreak, the RDC called upon the authorities of all concerned departments to ensure that safe drinking water is available to all residents of the city and due emphasis should be given to improve the sanitation. Two more cases of jaundice positive were reported in the city on the day taking the total afflicted number to 46.

The high-level meeting was attended among others by the district Collector Nirmal Mishra, CMC Commissioner Gyana Das, CDMO Prafulla Behera and officials and engineers of several departments. The meeting also expressed concern over the ongoing drainage and sewerage works of the city under the JICA project.

The RDC also directed that all the ASHA workers of the urban health department in the city to join the Anganwadi workers in spreading awareness among the city residents about the symptoms of jaundice and its prevention. This decision was taken when it was revealed that many afflicted persons are resorting to blind beliefs and unscientific methods of treating the viral disease.