KOCHI: In the wake of the waterborne disease outbreaks during summer, the district administration has intensified steps to ensure the quality of the drinking water being distributed in the district. Four new cases of hepatitis A have been reported on Tuesday from Varapuzha, Desam, Aluva and Choornikkara, taking the total number of the hepatitis A cases reported this year to 33.“Number of other diseases reported so far are Hepatitis B (23 cases), Hepatitis E (15) and Typhoid (53),” said district medical officer Dr Sudhakaran. Meanwhile, the Collector P I Sheik Pareeth on Tuesday issued an order restricting collection of water only from 27 sources certified by the Department of Health. He has banned collection of water from other sources, including Periyar.The District Administration has asked the Department of Irrigation to distribute water through tankers. Water supplied by the Irrigation Department will be available at a rate of Rs 30 for 1,000 litres. The order will come into existence from Wednesday.It has also been decided to conduct frequent inspection of tankers by a team of officials of Police, Motor Vehicle and Revenue, who will be held to ensure that these guidelines are followed.Upon finding the distribution of contaminated water, the vehicle used will be seized. “Those who buy water should ensure that they get pure water. Location of the source and time of collection of water should be kept in a register,” the Collector said.Acting on media reports that contaminated water was being distributed through tankers, the Foods Safety officials had Monday inspected tanker lorries which were carrying drinking water.
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