Town panchayat EO suspended

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, MAY. 8. The executive officer of the Komaralingam town panchayat in Udumalpet is being suspended following the death of two persons due to unsafe drinking water.

The situation in the town panchayat, was under control. Special medical teams had been formed in Komaralingam primary health centre and Udumalpet Government hospital following the outbreak of the water-borne disease, the Health Minister, Mr. Arcot N. Veerasami, told the Assembly today.

About 20,000 doses of cholera inoculation were being administered and medicines were being distributed. The drinking water had now been chlorinated, he added.

Outlining the steps taken by the Government on the outbreak of the disease, he said the District Collector had taken preventive measures and appointed special officers to tackle the problem. The Minister for Youth and Pollution Control, Mr. Pongalur Palanisamy, and the Udumalpet MLA had visited those admitted to the PHC and the Government hospital.

Giving details , he said 145 had been admitted as inpatients and 365 treated as outpatients in the Komaralingam PHC. While in the Udumalpet hospital, 105 persons were treated, another 48 were treated in the Coimbatore Government hospital.

While denying any laxity on the part of the Government in dealing with the situation, he said the person who should be held responsible for inaction was the president of the town panchayat who was elected as a member of the AIADMK, but was now in the TMC. However, the TMC member, Mr. Mohan Kandasamy, said the president was not with the TMC. In any case, he said the issue should not be politicised.

The Local Administration Minister, Mr. Ko. Si. Mani, while announcing the suspension, said the Government could only monitor the working of the local bodies.

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Section  : Regional
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