The government would check hand pumps in the state for arsenic contamination and colour code them to ensure residents get clean drinking water.

Ansuli Arya, the principal secretary of the public health and engineering department, on Thursday flagged off 40 mobile vans from Miller School. These would travel across the state to spread awareness on the importance of sanitation and hygiene through audio-visual equipment.

Speaking at a workshop later, she said: “Drinking water awareness and sanitation campaign is being run in the entire state under National Rural Drinking Water Programme and Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan/Lohiya Swachata Yojana. The campaign will continue till February 25.”

“Hand pumps should be tested for arsenic and those found contaminated should be painted in red. Those not contaminated with arsenic should be marked in blue. Pure drinking water tanks would be arranged and connected to houses through pipes,” she added.