A biker negotiates a waterlogged Acharya Vihar stretch in Bhubaneswar on Monday. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 4: With incessant rain raising the fear of diseases caused by water and food contamination, civic authorities have started checking the quality of the fare served by roadside vendors in the Old Town area. The public health engineering organisation (PHEO) is also trying to do its bit by increasing the chlorine level in the water supplied in the city.

“Since a majority of people depend on the PHEO supply, we have asked the technical staff at the Palasuni and Mundali treatment plants to check the filters to ensure that soil and debris are separated. At the treatment plants our engineers are using more alum and chlorine to ensure safe water for the supply,’’ said superintending engineer Chittaranjan Jena.

On the other hand, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is managing the food quality check with only one squad while at least nine more are needed.

“As the population has reached almost nine lakh and the jurisdiction has increased, we need more manpower, but we have to manage it with only one squad,’’ said city health officer Chandrika Prasad Das.

Nayapalli resident N.B. Panda, however, added that the civic body should carry out raids on food joints more vigorously so that people get safe food at street vendors and fast food joints.

Superintendent of the Capital Hospital Bijay Mishra said that everyday 1,600 to 1,800 patients reported with complaints of water and food contamination.

Preventive care

Dietician at city-based Aditya Care Hospital Guruprasad Das said that street food should be avoided during rainy season.

“One should make it a point to eat hot food in disposable plates to avoid contamination. Water, if consumed outside home, should be had from sealed bottles. Vendors should also remember these points,” Das said.

The dietician also advised consumption of fresh fruits and nuts, but suggested that outer layer of the fruits should be peeled off.

“Fruits as a source of anti-oxidants can keep up the immunity level in the body. Vegetables for salads should be peeled and washed with saline water,” he said.

Senior medicine specialist Nihar Ranjan Samal said that over-exposure to cold should be avoided during the monsoon. This, he said, keep fever and cold away.

“Everyone, especially kids, should stay away from cold drinks. It should be replaced with hot health drinks to avoid soar throats and cold. As fish breeds in the rainy season, those who prefer to have non-vegetarian dishes should go for stuff such as chicken. However, it is always better to have more vegetables during the rainy season,” he said.