Karnataka - Madikeri   

Report on quality of drinking water sought

Staff Correspondent

`Ensure that water supplied through tankers is safe for drinking'

Madikeri: Chief Executive Officer of the Kodagu Zilla Panchayat K. Sundar Naik has asked officials of the District Surveillance unit here to submit a report on the quality of drinking water in the district within 15 days.

He was presiding over a meeting to discuss prevention of contagious diseases, an official press release said here on Tuesday.

Besides gathering information on the spread of diseases, officials should collect water samples and test them. If the water is found unsuitable for drinking, corrective measures must be taken, Mr. Naik is quoted as saying in the release.

Private operators

The involvement of private operators for supplying drinking water to households may become inevitable in view of shortage of water, and in such cases the officials must ensure supply of clean water, he said.

Mr. Naik said circulars had been issued by the zilla panchayat to all gram panchayats and the engineers concerned, apart from the taluk health officers, to provide clean drinking water to people. The taluk health officers must attend anganawadi meetings and give talks on the need to ensure availability of clean drinking water, Mr. Naik said. Mr. Naik said the possibilities of contracting water-borne diseases were high from water obtained from borewells and tankers.

A coordination meeting should be held at the taluk level to spread awareness among people, he said. Reports of gastroenteritis cases had been received from Virajpet taluk recently, he said and asked the surveillance unit officers to submit a report immediately.

On the reported increase in number of stray dogs in the district (Madikeri in particular), Mr. Naik asked the authorities concerned to take steps to prevent incidents of dog bites and check the menace. District Health Officer Rangaiah, Madikeri Taluk Panchayat executive officer Motappa, and M.K. Satish of the surveillance unit were present.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Rs. 58-lakh plan for Raja Seat
Report on quality of drinking water sought

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu