RMC advised to supply drinking water by tankers in jaundice-hit areas of Raipur

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh high court-appointed amicus curiae in a case pertaining to contamination of potable water has advised the Raipur Municipal Corporation (RMC) to supply drinking water through water tankers in the jaundice-affected areas and immediately replace the pipelines passing through drains to ensure safe chlorinated water to the people.
Advocate Saurabh Dangi, who was earlier appointed as amicus curiae by the state high court in a PIL filed by one Mukesh Dewangan in 2014 on the issue of contamination of potable water and presence of e-coli bacteria in drinking water, said the court had directed supply of water to certain wards through water tankers.
In a letter to the RMC commissioner, Dangi said it has come to notice that that due to supply of contaminated water by RMC in various wards of the municipal limits, there has been an outbreak of Jaundice. Recently the total number of cases of jaundice has reached to around 200 as per the newspaper reports which requires urgent and efficient efforts on part of RMC to curb outbreak of hepatitis-E in municipal limits.
Dangi said the order is still in force, which implies that RMC is bound to RMC is bound to supply water by tankers to these areas.
The letter said it is well aware that RMC is working under pressure due to Covid-19 situation but the rise of jaundice patients in some parts of the state capital city due to poor quality of water cannot be neglected. Infact, in the current scenario it is even more important to protect the citizens from such disease and to take every endeavour to ensure safe drinking water.
The amicus curiae suggested RMC to supply potable water through the same mechanism, by tankers to jaundice affected areas. It is also advised that the pipelines passing through drains, in the affected areas, be immediately replaced and chlorinated water be supplied to the residents.
RMC commissioner Saurabh Kumar told TOI that RMC will take Chhattisgarh high court appointed amicus curaie advice seriously. RMC have already removed around 20km long affected pipelines and are using tankers in identified areas.