Notwithstanding the tall claims of the State Government about providing pure drinking water facilities and sanitation during the coming Nabakalebar festival in Puri, at least 400 people are now affected by jaundice in the pilgrim city. With three months to go for the grand festival of the lords, as many as 20 city slums are in the grip of water-borne diseases. According to Puri Chief District Medical Officer Dr Gyanendra Sahu, water pollution is the foremost reason behind the outbreak of jaundice. The water sources are getting contaminated due to leakages.
About 1,600 water samples from different areas of the city were collected and sent to the State water testing laboratory in Bhubaneswar. The test report confirmed that at least 400 samples were not fit for drinking, he said. Based on the water sample report, a list of the affected areas has been prepared where public awareness drive would be conducted. Dwellers would be advised to take boiled water, and 78 Anganwadi Workers would be engaged for purification of wells, Dr Sahu said.
The Public Health Department has received several complaints of leakages in drinking water pipelines leading to contamination. Besides, water pipelines have been allegedly damaged at many places during the repair of drainage and sewerage systems ahead of the Nabakalebar, as a result of which polluted water is getting into the pipelines.
Notably, the Government had set a deadline of March 31 to complete the repair and renovation of drainage, sewerage, piped water supply and laying of underground electric cables following which repair and construction of roads was to be undertaken by the Works Department. Meanwhile, a blame game has ensued between the Health Department and the Public Health Department over the cause of the spread of jaundice, with the latter dismissing reports of water contamination due to leakages in the pipelines.