Cuttack: Acting on the statement of the Urban Development secretary G Mathivathanan that poor sanitary condition was the cause for the outbreak of jaundice in Cuttack city, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) has decided to launch an eviction drive in the affected areas of Jobra and its adjoining areas from tomorrow.
Talking to OTV after a spot visit to the jaundice affected areas in Jobra on Tuesday, CMC commissioner Gyanaranjan Das said during the survey work in the area over the last three days, CMC staffs have found that the existing drains have not been cleaned as people have unauthorisedly constructed houses, toilets and put up cabins on them.
“In fact, we had decided to launch an eviction drive in Jobra area today. But due to non-availability of adequate force, we have postponed it to tomorrow. We will demolish the structures which are obstructing the drains. We have found that there are about 20 structures, temporary toilets and some cabins which have been constructed or put up on the drain. Besides, some house building materials are also found dumped on the drain. I had personally told the people three days ago to evict the encroached drain by Monday. If they do not evict, we will definitely book them for Public Nuisance under Section 268 of the IPC,” Das said.
Asked about the steps the CMC is going to take in the jaundice affected areas in the city, he said it has been found that some families have no toilets while those who have constructed toilets do not have septic tanks and are discharging excreta directly into the drain. “Besides, we will serve notice on those who have constructed toilets but have no septic tank despite having space for it to construct septic tanks within a month failing which we will impose penalty on them and book them fo Public Nuisance case under Section 133 of the IPC,” he informed.
Talking about the status of jaundice in the city, the CMC commissioner said one more patient was identified in Jobra area yesterday while the incidence of the disease in other parts of the city like Kesharpur is sporadic.
"We have requested the people to drink boiled water. To stop the further spread of jaundice, we have stopped the sale of gupchup, dahibara-aludum and sugarcane juice in the affected areas of the city. We have requested the people to clean up their overhead tank in their houses at least every six month.
To a question on the steps taken by the CMC to open jala chhatras in the city to provide water to the people during summer, Das said the CMC till date has set up 80 tankers in different areas of the city.
“Taking note of the outbreak of jaundice in the city, we have decided not to provide water to the people from the earthen pot as there is every chance of water contamination. Due to this reason, we are supplying water from the Public Health department through Syntex tanks,” the CMC commissioner informed.