The Hindu 04.11.2009
A massive cleaning operation undertaken
Staff Reporter
| To check spread of viral fever in Theni district |
IN ACTION: Collector P. Muthuveeran inspecting the kitchen of a restaurant in Theni on Tuesday.
THENI: A massive cleaning operation has been launched in Theni district to check the spread of viral fever. Action has also been initiated against hotels and restaurants here that do not keep their kitchen clean.
Already, health and sanitary workers in municipalities and panchayats have been advised to clean overhead tanks and ground-level tanks and apply chlorine to kill germs.
Insecticides are being sprayed on stagnant water on roadsides in Theni to kill mosquitoes and workers in rural areas have been directed to cart away waste to garbage dumps.
Collector P. Muthuveeran, who saw heaps of garbage on both sides of the railway track in the 26th ward of Theni municipality on Tuesday, ordered the civic body to clean the entire stretch immediately.
He also inspected cleaning operation at Palanichettipatti and Veerapandi town panchayats and Muthuthevanpatti and Upparpatti panchayats. Talking to media persons after inspecting the operation, Mr. Muthuveeran said cleaning operation was taking place on a large scale in all 130 village panchayats and 21 town panchayats and municipalities.
A total of 100 temporary health workers, 10 for each panchayat union, had been deputed for this work.
“We have kept sufficient stock of lifesaving drugs, particularly medicines for viral fever, at primary health centres and taluk and headquarter hospitals. All preventive measures have been taken to control the fever,” he added.
He also ordered closure of two hotels near central bus stand in Theni town that did not keep the kitchen clean. These hotels would be allowed to reopen only after obtaining a certificate from sanitation officials.
People should cooperate with the administration in keeping their surroundings clean, an important measure to prevent the spread of any disease, Mr. Muthuveeran said.
