The Hindu 30.09.2009
Old drinking water pipelines to be replaced
Rajesh B. Nair
| Local bodies told to submit detailed report on projects to be executed under JNNURM |
Pipes to be replaced after receiving sufficient funds under JNNURM
System in place to prevent any outbreak, says official
PUDUCHERRY: The Local Administration Department has directed all municipalities and village panchayats to submit a detailed report on projects to be taken up under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission scheme. The civic bodies have been asked to submit the report before October 5.
Officials said that all municipalities and commune panchayats had been asked to prepare a list of works that should be taken up under the JNNURM scheme. The government had decided to give priority to replace old pipelines following reports of contamination of drinking water in certain places in the urban and semi urban areas of the Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam regions, officials said.
“As we have received complaints of water contamination from several places, priority will be given to replacement of old pipes. Most of the drinking water pipes are old. These would be replaced after we get sufficient funds under JNNURM,” Public Health Minister A. Namassivayam told The Hindu.
“Regular tests conducted at the Public Health Laboratory to detect presence of bacteria and pathogens showed that it was not satisfactory in several places. We have detected the presence of coliform bacteria. It’s only a fecal contamination and not pathogens,” Director of Health and Family Welfare Services Dilip Kumar Baliga told The Hindu.
Whenever the contamination was detected, cleaning of tanks and chlorination of water were undertaken by the Local Administration Department and the Public Works Department, Dr. Baliga said. Though cases of water borne diseases are less prevalent in the Union Territory, people should boil water before using it. “There is no need for panic. We have only a few cases of water borne diseases such as diarrhoea, hepatitis A and typhoid. Only when you get a cluster of indigenous water borne diseases, it would become a cause of concern. However, we have a proper system in place even at the field-level to prevent any outbreak,” Dr. Baliga said.
