Punjab Local Bodies Minister directs to prevent outbreak of diseases after torrential rains

Chandigarh, August 21, 2019: The Punjab Local Bodies Minister Brahm Mohindra on Wednesday issued strict directions to ensure comprehensive measures to nullify any chance of disease outbreak in the state especially in the low lying areas in view of heavy rains lashing the state in the past some days.
Chairing a high level meeting to review the overall preparedness of the department here at his office, Brahm Mohindra also instructed the authorities to ensure plugging of open sewage holes to prevent its mixing with the potable water pipes.
Expressing satisfaction over the receding water levels in most of the cities, the Minister also directed the authorities to put the low lying areas under surveillance 24x7 and pump out stagnated water immediately to avoid water logging.
Underlining the need to maintain high level of cleanliness, the Local Bodies Minister also asked the Commissioners of the Corporations and Regional Deputy Directors of all Nagar Panchayats, Nagar Councils, Municipal Committees and Improvement Trusts to make sure that the stagnated city garbage was being lifted regularly. He also asked them to conduct the on-spot checking at least twice in a day to ensure that herbal sanitizer was being sprayed on the space from where the garbage had been lifted.
Reiterating the state government commitment to provide a healthy atmosphere under its flagship programme Tandarust Punjab, Brahm Mohindra asked the authorities to coordinate with the district health authorities to locate the potential high risk vector borne diseases regions in the aftermath of water logging. He categorically asked them to do the fogging exercise in every nook and corner of cities to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes.
Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting included A Venu Prasad, Principal Secretary Local Bodies, Karnesh Sharma Director Local Bodies and other senior officers of the department.