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.
