In response to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s directive to curb the spread of diarrhoea in various towns across Punjab, Chief Secretary Anurag Verma convened a meeting with all the Deputy Commissioners to assess the situation and strategize necessary interventions.
Chief Secretary Verma emphasized the government’s responsibility to ensure the health and well-being of all residents, asserting a zero-tolerance policy towards any negligence in this regard. He stated that any failure in water quality testing would result in strict action against the responsible water supply officers.
To support these efforts, the Health Department has allocated Rs. 2 lakh for large districts and Rs. 1 lakh for smaller districts to purchase water testing kits. Additionally, the Principal Secretary of Water Supply & Sanitation reported that Rs. 25 lakh has been released for this purpose.
During the meeting, Deputy Commissioners confirmed receiving certifications from field officers regarding the supply of clean drinking water in their respective areas. Verma reiterated the need for 100 percent clean drinking water, warning of severe consequences for any lapses.
The Additional Chief Secretary of Local Government disclosed that a charge sheet had been issued to officials in Patran, Patiala District, including the EO, JE, and Sanitary and Chief Sanitary Inspector, for their roles in recent issues. Similarly, the Chief Secretary instructed the DC of Mohali to take legal action regarding the non-cleaning of water tanks in Kharar.
Verma directed the DCs to visit slum areas where diarrhoea cases have been reported personally and to ensure the maintenance of clean and hygienic conditions. District Health Officers were tasked with ensuring the quality of open fruits and other consumables, along with drinking water.
The Health Secretary noted that following the Chief Minister’s directions, the number of water samples taken for testing has been doubled. In large cities, 400 samples are now being tested, while medium and small cities are testing 300 and 200 samples, respectively. Since July 17th, apart from a few isolated incidents, no new cases of diarrhoea have been reported, and vigilance remains high to prevent further outbreaks.
Verma also instructed the Water Supply & Sanitation and Rural Development & Panchayat Departments to extend these measures to rural areas. He assured that the Health Department is providing adequate and free treatment to affected individuals, distributing over 10 lakh chlorine tablets at no cost.
The Chief Secretary urged the DCs to monitor the situation daily and strictly implement all directions. The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary (Local Government) D.K. Tiwari, Principal Secretary Water Supply & Sanitation Nilkanth S. Avhad, Administrative Secretary Health Priyank Bharti, Health Secretary Dr. Abhinav, CEO Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board Malwinder Singh Jaggi, Director Local Government Uma Shankar Gupta, and other key officials, including DCs, Municipal Commissioners, ADCs (Urban Development), Civil Surgeons, and EOs of Municipalities.
