Panchkula: Maintain supply lines & ensure sanitation to contain disease

OPEN HOUSE: What should Panchkula administration do to check spread of cholera and provide potable water?

Potable water for villages

Cholera is spreading fast. Best solution is to supply potable drinking water to residents. Besides residents should also be exhorted to drink boiled water only. The Municipal Coporation should take all necessary steps to curb the disease.

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

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Lay emphasis on cleanliness

Cholera outbreak is wreaking havoc in people’s lives. The Administration should emphasise on personal and community cleanliness. Water should not be allowed to stagnate in and around houses. Moreover, the Water Supply and Sanitation Department should have impeccable filtration system to lessen the chance of spreading the cholera.

Gaurav Kumar, Chandigarh

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Shows admn’s apathy towards outbreaks

People getting affected by cholera in villages of Panchkula district reflects poor functioning of the civic administration and its apathy in preventing such outbreaks, which have become an annual feature during the monsoon season. Provision of safe drinking water is responsibility of the Administration. It’s of paramount importance that public health authorities conduct regular surveys and hold awareness camps on preventive measures in areas susceptible to waterborne disease outbreaks. Besides, the Administration should ensure that safe drinking water is available for all residents.

Dr Dinesh Kumar Verma, Panchkula

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Keep a check on illegal connections

The reason of cholera outbreak is contamination of drinking water through damaged sewer lines. Illegal water connections taken by villagers by puncturing supply lines is also the reason of water contamination. The Administration is responsible for the maintenance and repair of damaged and leaking sewer and water supply lines. Routine check-up of sewer and water lines and monitoring of illegal connections can curb such outbreaks.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

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Regularly wash hands with soap

The 250-plus cholera cases in Panchkula’s Abheypur village is a matter of concern for the Administration amid the ongoing pandemic. Cholera, an acute diarrhoeal disease, spreads quickly in inadequate living spaces. It can be controlled by providing universal access to safe drinking water, following good hygiene practices and maintaining adequate sanitation. Even handwashing with soap can significantly limit the transmission of disease. Other measures include proper disposal of human waste, drinking boiled, effective warning systems and community-level participation to contain spread of the waterborne diseases.

Akash Kumar, Chandigarh

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A wake-up call for administration

Many persons fell ill due Cholera outbreak in villages of Panchkula district because potable water got contaminated by sewage flowing from leaking sewer lines. This clearly shows negligence of the supervisory staff in not repairing leaking joints. The Municipal Corporation keeps hiking water tariff without realising that consumers are paying it for getting safe and not polluted drinking water. This outbreak must act as a wake-up call for the authorities concerned to prevent outbreak water-borne diseases.

SC Luthra, Chandigarh

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Compensate people who got infected

The outbreak of cholera in two villages of Panchkula district is attributable to improperly planned and casual water pipeline connections laid by the department concerned. In order to cut costs and ensure minimum usage of land for providing basic facilities the Administration lays sewer line and water supply pipelines parallel to each other without ensuring enough gap in between the two. This increases chances of water contamination in case of leakage of joints. There is no systemic inspection of pipelines. Consequently, if any sewer line is damaged there is high probability of spreading infection. The Panchkula Municipal Corporation must take responsibility for this outbreak and compensate people, who contracted the disease.

Group Captain Samaresh Kumar Goswami (retd), Chandigarh

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Regularise illegal water connections

In most cities illegal colonies have mushroomed where residents draw water through illegal connections, which is unsafe. The authorities must check leakages in water supply and sewer lines regularly. All leakages in water supply and sewer lines should be plugged and if necessary all pipelines be replaced immediately. The authorities concerned don’t have old drawings plans of the existing water supply and sewer lines in many areas. They just dig holes at various locations to locate leakage points. Mapping of all underground pipelines should be done with the latest technology available and records made available. All illegal water supply or sewer connections should be disconnected or properly regularised.

Suresh Verma, Chandigarh

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Keep houses, their surroundings clean

People get infected with cholera on consumption of contaminated food or water. It can spread further due to unhygienic conditions and unclean surroundings. The Administration should provide immediate medical to those, who have contracted the disease. Besides, the civic body should ensure supply of safe drinking water to residents. Creating awareness on keeping houses and surroundings cleanliness is of paramount importance to prevent the spread of infection.

Surinder Paul Wadhwa, Mohali

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Awareness on causes, prevention of disease

Cholera is a dangerous disease and spreads fast. Clean drinking water should be supplied to residents. Water supply and sewer lines should be checked regularly for leakages. The Administration should make people aware about causes and prevention of Cholera.

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali

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Repair leaking water supply pipes

The monsoon season brings a number of waterborne diseases. Cholera is one of them. Its outbreak is due to supply of contaminated drinking water. So, people, especially the poor must be guided to boil water before drinking. Besides, residents must be vaccinated against disease. Leaking water pipes and sewer lines should be repaired at the earliest. Water tanks need to be cleaned regularly. Utmost care must be taken to maintain personal hygiene. Avoid the outside food and prefer home cooked fresh food during the monsoon season.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Sangrur

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Keep Check on food, drinks sold by vendors

The Administration should exhort people to cover their overhead water tanks in houses and keep them clean. Chlorine should be added to drinking water. Resident can be apprised about keeping cholera at bay through advertisements in newspapers. The Administration should keep a check on the quality of food and drinks sold by street vendors. Besides, the Administration should ensure that sewer water is not used for growing vegetables. The commercially sold ice should be made from safe water. Sale of open fruits and food must be banned during the rainy season.

Antara Rakheja, Chandigarh

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Chlorination method for disinfection

Prevention of cholera is clearly dependent on access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation and maintaining basic hygiene. Chlorination is method, which the Administration can use to disinfect water and make it safe for drinking. Campaigns to create awareness on water-borne diseases can be launched. Cholera treatment should be free in government hospitals and dispensaries. The must intensify efforts to prevent the spread of cholera.

Anita Tandon, Kharar

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Water supply not up to standards

It is known fact water supplied by the Municipal Corporation is not up to standards and muddy. It is harmful for health and spreads waterborne diseases like cholera. The Administration should test water regularly to ensure that it has got right ph value range and is safe for consumption. Old and defective external water supply pipelines must be replaced/repaired to ensure purity of water. There will be no need of having water purifiers/RO’s if the MC authorities ensure clean and safe filtered water supply for the public at large.

Col TBS Bedi (retd), Mohali

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Action plan need of the hour

Cholera outbreak at villages in Panchkula district claimed life of a nine-year-old boy and affected many others. Villagers say they brought the water contamination matter to the notice of the authorities concerned, but no steps were taken to solve issue. The main cause of spreading cholera is mixing of sewage in water supplied. Residents want action against erring officials for negligence. The Administration should check all pipelines, organise health check-up camps in colonies and slums and distribute ORS and chlorine tablets. An action plan is need to prevent the outbreak of cholera in the future. It is Administration’s responsibility to provide safe drinking water to residents.

Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula

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Implore residents to maintain hygiene

Cholera is an acute diarrhoea disease that can kill people within hours. People can use ORS or Zinc to cure themselves. The Administration should provide safe drinking water and implore residents to maintain hygiene to prevent the spread of cholera and other waterborne diseases. Otherwise, good health will be a distant dream for all residents.

Disha Sachdeva, Chandigarh

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Book erring officials

It’s sad to know many people got infected with cholera in Panchkula district just because of the negligence of the water and sanitation authorities. The Administration is yet to fix responsibility of officials for the outbreak of the disease in Abheypur village. Villagers have demanded registration of criminal case against erring officials for negligence, which points out they had warned them of water contamination outbreak of the disease. This proves the fact officials chose to do nothing resulting in many people falling ill. There is a need for a roadmap for the prevention and control of cholera. Besides, there is a need to sensitise people about the ramifications of puncturing water supply line.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

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Install One RO plant in each village

Every citizen has right to get safe drinking water. Also, its duty of the Administration to provide potable water to the public. There should be at least one RO plant in every village otherwise department concerned must ensure good quality drinking water. The Water Supply and Sanitation Department can use potassium permanganate at regular intervals to disinfect water and prevent outbreak of cholera in villages. It’s the cheapest and easiest way to disinfect water.

AK Jindal, Patiala

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Plug leakage, stop wastage

Water is supplied through pipelines. Sometimes there can be leakage in supply lines, which should be plugged immediately. Otherwise, it leads to wastage of water and its contamination. This is the reason behind sudden outbreak of cholera at villages in Panchkula district. The Administration should direct the department concerned first to investigate the cause of the cholera outbreak and resolve it as soon as possible.

Priyam Aggarwal, Chandigarh

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Regular checking of supply lines

The Administration must curb wastage of water. It should remove illegal and unauthorised water connections. Regular checking of supply lines to prevent blockage, leakage and unauthorised tapping of water is a must. Water tanks and pipes should be cleaned at regular intervals. Also, chemical treatment of water to make it fit for drinking is must during the monsoon season.

Bubby Soin, Chandigarh

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Provide separate loo

One of the best methods to prevent the outbreak of cholera is to provide separate loo for each family living in slums. These should be numbered so that no other family can use others loo. Also, the Administration should provide water connection to every family and remove hand pumps. People should be made aware of the importance of washing hands before preparing food and proper cooking. People defecating in the open should be fined or punished.

Savita Kuthiala, Chandigarh

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Cook food properly

The cholera outbreak at villages in Panchkula has affected several people. The Administration should ensure safe drinking water for all. People should cook food properly, keep it covered and eat it hot. Rehydration, intravenous fluids, antibiotics and zinc supplements help in recovering from the cholera. The Administration should distribute antibiotics in villages affected by cholera. Awareness campaigns to make people aware of symptoms, transmission and prevention of cholera can be launched. Print and electronic media can be roped in to spread awareness on waterborne diseases.

Adish Sood, Amloh

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Ramp up medical facilities

The cholera outbreak at villages in Panchkula district has exposed the Administration’s lack of preparedness to deal with waterborne diseases. The cholera outbreak took villagers by surprise and left the Administration jittery. What rankles most is that even the HSVP functionaries claimed that the snag had been rectified and water supply restored. They admitted that water being supplied was not fit for human consumption. A million dollar question is “Why is water being supplied to people if it is not fit for consumption?” This is double whammy for hapless villagers, who are fear the impending third Covid wave. The ruling dispensation needs to take an urgent call to ensure that clean potable water is available maybe through tankers or other modes of transport. The authorities concerned need to go the whole hog and ramp up medical facilities to pre-empt chances of any such outbreaks.

Ramesh K Dhiman, Chandigarh

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Distribute medicines in slums, colonies

The Administration should distribute free medicines in the slum areas to contain Cholera infection. The Administration can also rope in NGOs to distribute free potable water among residents during the rainy season. Water tanks should be cleaned at regular intervals.

Avinash Goyal, Chandigarh

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Check quality of water regularly

The cholera outbreak in Panchkula villages is a cause of concern. Residents must be advised to drink chlorinated and boiled water only. The department concerned should keep a check on contamination of water. Leakages in water supply lines must be immediately plugged. People drawing water by puncturing pipelines must be dealt with strictly. Open drains must be covered. Sanitation must improve in villages. The quality of water must be tested from time to time.

Simran Sidhu, Chandigarh

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Detect source of contamination

The cholera outbreak at villages of Panchkula district is a matter of concern. The source of such outbreak is contamination of drinking water. Drinking water must be chlorinated. Leaking water pipelines must be repaired. Water tanks must also be cleaned. Advisories must be issued for residents to check their water tanks for any contamination and leakages around the area. The Health Department should check water for any contamination.

Wg Cdr Jasbir Singh Minhas (retd), Mohali

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Testing of water at source, supply points

The recent cholera outbreak at Panchkula villages is a warning bell that all is not well with the water supply system. The authorities concerned should ensure that citizens get water fit for consumption. The Administration should find the cause of contamination and eliminate it by testing at source and at supply points. Some intermediate points should be provided on water supply pipelines for regular testing. The results should be documented and displayed on the department website.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Chandigarh

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Upgrade water supply infrastructure

The cholera outbreak at villages in Panchkula district due to contaminated water supplied by the Municipal Corporation has shocked residents. There is certainly no dearth of funds or manpower to maintain amenities. The problem is not giving priority to civic issues. The authorities must ensure timely maintenance of supply lines rather than giving lame justification. The corporation doesn’t have mechanism to check underground pipe leakages owing to old infrastructure. So, the water supply infrastructure must be upgraded with latest technology. Illegal connections damage supply lines and contaminate water. All such connections must be identified and strict action should be taken against culprits. Responsibility of officials concerned should be fixed and suitable punishment be given for laxity.

Dr Shruti K Chawla, Chandigarh

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Change plan to lay sewer, water lines

Sadly, the mixing of sewage with drinking water has once again spread cholera in Panchkula villages. This calls for change in the strategy to lay sewer lines and water supply lines.

Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

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An eye opener for officials

The recent cholera outbreak in some Panchkula villages is an eye opener for officials responsible for providing safe potable water to the people. Even if supply source is safe, water can easily get contaminated during collection, transportation and storage in household. However, the quality of water at the source cannot be guaranteed. So, treatment process is needed to disinfect water at the point of use such as taps, vessels or storage containers. Proper selection of water treatment methods such as filtration, disinfection and chlorination is also of prime importance to contain waterborne diseases. The authorities should monitor facilities that provide safe water.

Dr Anil Kumar Yadav, Chandigarh

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Admn wakes up after outbreak of disease

A sense of fear has gripped residents after a large number of cholera cases were reported from Abheypur village in Panchkula district. This has happened due to the lethargic attitude of the Administration and inept handling of the situation well before hand. Tall claims of the authorities for improving cleanliness under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan have altogether failed to justify the situation. To check the spread of cholera only medicines will serve no purpose. The Administration needs to make every effort for providing clean water, unadulterated food, remove heaps of garbage and construction material and clean sewerage systems. Besides, create awareness to improve sanitation in villages is the need of the hour.

SK Khosla, Chandigarh

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Check all water supply sources

The recent cholera outbreak in Panchkula district is a cause of concern. The district cannot face two epidemics simultaneously. To control the cholera outbreak, every source of water must be checked for contamination. The authorities must launch a door-to-door survey to check quality of drinking water. The authorities must install water purifiers in villages of Panchkula district. Awareness about waterborne diseases must be spread through street plays and memes.

Saikrit Gulati, Chandigarh

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QUESTION

In view of negligible Covid cases in Chandigarh and 79% population found with antibodies in a sero survey, should the PGIMER and the GMCH, Sector 32, open walk-in OPDs for the general public?

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