Public Health Engineering (PHE) Minister Kedar Kashyap informed on Friday that PHE department has initiated a special drive for repairing and treatment of wells, public handpumps, tanks of Nal-Jal Scheme, pipelines and other water resources under the department, in view of ongoing rainy season. Under this drive, Health Department in coordination with Gram Panchayats and Urban Bodies will use chlorine tablets and bleaching powder in all the sources of drinking water so as to ensure supply of safe and uncontaminated drinking-water. Minister Kashyap said that he will personally go for sudden inspection in various districts to ensure proper conduction of the drive.
PHE department's Chief Engineer has issued circular to the Executive Engineers of various districts of the state, in the context. The circular states that it is necessary to check the quality of drinking-water supplied during rainy season. Every single effort should be made to prevent contamination of drinking-water resources. For this, Gram Panchayats have been advised to ensure ample stock of chlorine tablets and bleaching powder in store for treatment of water-tanks under Nal-Jal schemes in rural areas.
local Bodies have also been suggested to inspect water-supply resources, water purification plant, water-tanks and pipelines on immediate basis and ensure availability of all the necessary materials and chemicals for treatment of water. It has also been instructed that proper hygiene should be maintained around the water-resources in both rural and urban areas. Officials have also been instructed to publicize and promote the drive to ensure public participation in the same. The ground officials of PHE department have been instructed to be in contact with the Health Department Officials of respective districts and in case, they get information about spread of water-borne diseases in any part of the district, they should immediately ensure water quality test.
In case, water is found contaminated, proper arrangements should be made for treatment of the water.
Samples from various water resources should be collected on regular basis and tested in departmental laboratories. Participation of public representatives, social service organization and Health Department officials should be ensured to create awareness among villagers about the importance of maintaining hygiene around water resources.