Observing the alarming jaundice situation in Cuttack, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) held a preparatory meeting for prevention of the water-borne disease in the capital city on Monday along with the officials of Public Health Engineering Organisation (PHEO).
The PH Division informed that water samples would be collected and examined on a daily basis at the slums. Bleaching powder and halogen tablets would be distributed in jaundice-prone areas like slums, said PH Division ADM Dr Deben Dash.
leaflets, hoardings and small kiosks would be displayed in various areas where outbreak of jaundice is apprehended. A group-level meeting would be conducted in the slums in the Damana area, which would be replicated in all other slums, he said.
The BMC communication cell and Swachh Bhubaneswar Abhiyan (SBA) cell would undertake a massive awareness campaign. A chariot with audio messages would also be used for awareness purpose.
The PH informed that old contaminated pipes would be replaced with new ones soon.
This apart, the BMC is also planning to have a close look on Gup Chup sellers and, if needed, selling of Gup Chup would be banned.
Awareness would be created against open defecation, hand wash practice, use of safe drinking water and boiled water, etc.
BMC Additional Commissioner Alok Kar and Deputy Commissioner Srimant Misra were present at the meeting.