The Hindu 21.06.2013
Directive to maintain cleanliness, sanitation around relief camps
Low-lying areas along the Yamuna still submerged
The Delhi Government on Thursday directed its health
department and the three municipal corporations to maintain cleanliness
and sanitation around camps set up for flood-affected families. The
high-level meeting in this regard was chaired by Chief Minister Sheila
Dikshit as low-lying areas along the Yamuna remained submerged for the
second consecutive day though the water level in the river started to
recede this morning.
With the water level in the
Yamuna dropping below the 207 metre mark on Thursday afternoon, the
flooding problem near ISBT Kashmere Gate and the consequent traffic
congestion also ended . A number of personnel had, however, been
deployed along Ring Road from Chandgi Ram Akhara all the way up to
Nigambodh Ghat to ensure that the road remained free of water-logging.
Meanwhile,
the authorities have been instructed by the Delhi Government to
fumigate the camps with anti-malaria spray once a day and provide
chlorine bottles to the families to keep water safe for drinking. The
Delhi Jal Board tankers have also been stationed to provide safe
drinking water in the camps.
Revenue Minister
Arvinder Singh Lovely, who visited flood-affected areas, observed that
these areas remained prone to the spread of water-borne diseases such as
cholera and dysentery and directed the authorities to take up immediate
preventive measures. He further directed the MCD Commissioners to issue
instructions to all field and health officials to prevent any outbreak
of diseases and to deal firmly with any laxity in performance.
Ms.
Dikshit stated that the water level in the river had started to recede
and had dropped to 206.50 metres at 5 p.m. She said her government has
made elaborate arrangements to provide facilities by setting up 1,153
tents to accommodate more than 10,000 flood victims.
The
water level had touched 207.32 metres on Wednesday night. Various
low-lying areas along the Yamuna such as Usmanpur, Yamuna Bazar,
Bhajanpura, Shastri Park, Garhi Mandu and other places remained flooded.
Authorities have evacuated over 5,000 people from vulnerable
localities. The 145-year-old Old Yamuna Bridge connecting East Delhi
with the heart of the city remained shut for rail and road traffic for
the third consecutive day.
The Delhi Disaster
Management Authority has been overseeing the rescue operations along
with other departments and agencies . Mobile medical teams and water
tanks have been pressed into service to help the affected people.
