Cuttack, Feb. 22: The municipal corporation has decided to keep a tab on the drinking water kiosks that will come up during summer. This is in view of the sporadic cases of jaundice that have been reported from various parts in the city.

Official sources said the civic body would soon issue an advisory to various voluntary organisations that are keen to set up temporary water kiosks under the corporation limits. Such organisations will need prior permission from the civic body as well as the public health department.

As per preliminary decision, the civic body has decided to ensure that safe drinking water is supplied to all such kiosks. Such kiosks will mushroom in different parts of the city owing to the sudden rise in the temperature.

So far, over 135 persons had tested positive for jaundice while two persons reportedly died of the waterborne disease, since its outbreak on February 6.

"We will soon hold a meeting with various NGOs and other voluntary groups to educate them about the ill effects of jaundice. It will also influence them to distribute water from safe sources," said Gyana Das, the CMC commissioner.

Das said that keeping in view of the sudden rise in temperature, the corporation is planning to make safe drinking water kiosks by the first week of March.

As per preliminary measures, at least two temporary kiosks will be set up in each ward under the public private partnership (PPP) mode while the main focus will be on the supply of water through tankers. Though no heat wave advisory has been issued by the district administration so far, the jaundice outbreak has forced the authorities to come up with concrete measures to contain the disease.

"Extra caution will be maintained since there is a risk that people might get affected with jaundice if they consume water from kiosks with contaminated water," Das said.

Over 110 such drinking water kiosks are set up every year by the civic body to provide safe water to commuters at the peak of summer. Besides, another 50 to 60 such temporary kiosks are set up by voluntary groups.

"Though the work for replacement of drinking water pipelines is underway, we suspect people might get afflicted with the disease by consuming contaminated water at the temporary water kiosks. We hope steps are taken by the authorities to fix such leakages," said Sanjay Das, a resident of Sheikh Bazar.