KTR puts priority on sanitation, clean drinking water

The Minister along with Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar reviewed the rescue and relief measures being taken up in the city in view of the rains.

Hyderabad: With the rains taking a break on Thursday, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister KT Rama Rao directed officials to take up extensive sanitation works, ensure provision of safe drinking water, food and initiate all measures for prevention of communicable diseases.

Continuing his inspections in rain-affected areas in the city for the second consecutive day, the Minister interacted with residents and assured them of all help and support.

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With water levels slowly receding in several colonies, the GHMC was directed to take up sanitation works and ensure there was no spread of vector-borne and communicable diseases. On the sidelines of his inspection in the rain-affected areas of Nallakunta, Musheerabad, Amberpet and Tolichowki, the Minister instructed HMWSSB to increase testing of water samples and to also distribute chlorine tablets.

He appealed to the residents to be alert and cautious and consume only boiled water as a precautionary measure. He directed the officials and elected public representatives to shift residents in low-lying areas to shelter homes and arrange blankets, food and milk packets. Rao also instructed GHMC Commissioner DS Lokesh Kumar to submit proposals on setting up of drainage pipelines and sewer systems in a few areas as a means to ensure a permanent solution to avoid flooding in the future.

Earlier in the day, the Minister along with Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar reviewed the rescue and relief measures being taken up in the city in view of the rains. In colonies where the situation is under control and rainwater level receded, he directed health officials to extend medical treatment at community halls using ‘104’ ambulances. To this effect, instructions were issued to the health department to deploy health and paramedical staff as required.

Officials said 50,000 food packets were distributed in different colonies. On Thursday, arrangements were made for the distribution of Rs 5 meals from Annapurna canteens and free food packs in the required areas. To estimate the losses suffered due to rains, all the departments were directed to work in coordination with GHMC and submit a report at the earliest. For taking up preliminary repair works at the lakes, the GHMC was directed to work in coordination with the Irrigation department.

Apart from Hyderabad, the Minister wanted a detailed report on the calamity in the districts and on the losses suffered. MA&UD Principal Secretary Arvind Kumar was asked to submit a report on this.

 

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