Sambalpur, Dec. 23: The civic administration has failed to check the outbreak of jaundice, which has taken the form of epidemic in the city.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik and chief secretary G.B. Pati would visit the city to review the steps being undertaken by the administration. So far, the district headquarters hospital has reported 1,522 cases, including 17 deaths.
A hospital official said: 'Blood samples of 81 patients were collected on Monday. Of them, 28 samples were tested positive.'
Health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Naik and housing and urban development minister Pushpendra Singh Deo visited the city to strengthen the overall hygiene and wellness mechanism.
The drains are being cleaned. Leaking water supply pipes, which are said to be the major reason behind the outbreak of the disease, are being repaired almost on a war footing. Besides, private agencies have also been engaged in the repair work.
It is suspected that the water supplied by the public health engineering organisation has been contaminated. Water treatment plants are being chlorinated and tankers have been engaged to supply water to roadside eateries.
The official said: 'So far 1,461 leakages have been repaired and as many as 519 hand pumps have been disinfected.'
Civic body officials are destroying the unhygienic food at the roadside eateries and restaurants.
District collector Balwant Singh said: 'Steps are being taken to check the disease from spreading. For the purpose, 400 PVC tanks will be installed at strategic locations to provide safe drinking water. We are also thinking of engaging 50 mobile tankers to supply drinking water. People will be asked to use this water for drinking purposes till the pipelines are repaired.'
'The government has also appointed a probationary IAS officer here for supervision,' he said.
Residents attribute the outbreak to the government machineries' indifference. 'Several jaundice cases had been reported in May. But, the authorities did not take any action,' said local resident Purusottam Thela.
Additional district medical officer (public health) Ashok Das said: 'Serious steps are being taken to check the disease from spreading any further. The result of our efforts will be visible by the end of January.'
