District Collectors should ensure that safe drinking water
is supplied to all. Chief Secretary Shiv Dass Meena, IAS., has ordered that the
steps should be completed by the 30th. In this regard, in a letter written
yesterday to all District Collectors, he said:
Many people who drank the contaminated water fell ill and
were hospitalized. One person died. The central government has acknowledged
that Tamil Nadu has done the best in the country by installing drinking water
connection pipes to 60 percent of the houses under the Jal Jeevan scheme last
year. In such a state of ours, it is regrettable that there are reports of
people suffering due to drinking contaminated water. Steps should be taken to
prevent such incidents from happening.
Measures should be taken to ensure and monitor the provision
of safe drinking water to all. Damaged, leaking pipes should be identified and
repaired. Safety of overhead tanks and reservoirs should be ensured. The causes
of water pollution in drinking water pipes, tanks and ground level reservoirs
should be identified and corrected. Steps should be taken to eliminate the
risks related to water pollution.
Bleaching powder should be added to the water stored in
overhead tanks and ground level water tanks to keep the water clean. Ensure that
enough chlorine powder is mixed with the water to purify the water. Water
should be kept safe so that germs do not mix with drinking water. In
coordination with the Tamil Nadu Drinking Water Drainage Board and Rural
Development and Panchayat Departments, large quantities of water samples should
be collected and water quality tested.
A strong grievance redressal system should be established to
promptly address drinking water quality issues. It should be ensured that the
people get the confidence that 'if they complain about the drinking water
problem, it will be resolved in time'. All these should be completed by the
coming 30th.
A detailed report should be given to the Municipal
Administration, Water Supply Department and Secretary of Rural Development,
Panchayat Raj Department in order to monitor the related progress and
productive results. It says so
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