Date:12/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/12/stories/2008071257480300.htm

Karnataka

‘Take steps to prevent outbreak of diseases’

Staff Correspondent

Gram panchayats told to buy fogging machines

CEO asks officials to ensure adequate supply of drinking water to villages
‘Depute teachers as wardens for hostels as a temporary measure’

Chitradurga: Chitradurga Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer H.P. Prakash has instructed officials of the district Health Department to take precautionary measures to prevent outbreak of diseases such as chikungunya and dengue.

Speaking at the Karnataka Development Programme meeting here on Friday, he directed the taluk panchayat officials to ensure that each gram panchayat purchased a fogging machine and took up regular fogging.

“ The gram panchayats should have a machine each within a month,” he said.

Mr. Prakash cautioned that if adequate precautions were not taken, there was a possibility of outbreak of diseases in the district. “Negligence will not be tolerated,” he added.

On the possibility water shortage in the district due to scanty rainfall,

Water supply

Mr. Prakash asked the zilla panchayat officials to ensure that adequate water was supplied to villages.

“Take up the work on priority and ensure that the problem is mitigated within 24 hours,” he said.

L.B. Rajashekharappa, chairman of zilla panchayat’s Standing Committee on Health and Education, said that the district administration and zilla panchayat had jointly allotted 12 sites for the construction of hostels for backward class students. When Mr. Rajashekharappa pointed out the shortage of wardens in several hostels, Mr. Prakash instructed Deputy Director Public Instruction L. Rangrappa to depute schoolteachers on temporary basis as wardens.