After reports of fresh cases of jaundice in several parts of the city, the local civic body on Friday admitted that over 25 persons in the city are suffering from the disease, particularly in Ward No. 13 and 14 the of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC). Areas like Mehndipur, Darjee Sahi, Kali Gali, Balu Bazaar, Mahidas Bazaar, Nimchoudi and Alamchand Bazaar of the city have now come under the grip of jaundice and the panic-stricken people have blamed the civic authority for the worsening situation.
In February this year, when the disease was creating havoc in almost all parts of the city, the Orissa High Court had directed the State Government to form a high level committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to monitor the jaundice situation in the State. The High Court had also directed the CMC to immediately relocate the broken drinking water pipelines, which are passing through drains in the city. The civic body is also asked to take immediate steps to provide clean drinking water through tankers.
However, neither the pipelines were replaced nor steps taken to provide clean drinking water as a result of which jaundice has returned after three months, alleges the city Congress chief Md. Moqim. Reports said that the CMC has spent over Rs.16 crore in changing the pipelines during last three months.
