Pre-monsoon preventive measures review held

KOCHI: Transformation of the residential areas of migrant labourers into slums should be prevented, said Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob. He was speaking at a meeting organised in Piravom on Saturday to review the pre-monsoon preventive measures.“Sanitation and other activities including waste management should not be considered as the task of the Health Department alone. Services of Kudumbashree volunteers could be utilised for this purpose,” Anoop said. The minister said that instructions have been given to Kerala Water Authority (KWA) for distributing water to all places in Piravom constituency. “The quality of drinking water distributed through tanker lorries will be strictly monitored. KWA should improve its activities in places where water-borne diseases have been reported,” he said.Pre-monsoon sanitation and activities to prevent waterborne disease in the district will begin on  May 16, said District Medical Officer (DMO) Dr R Sudhakaran.“Preventive activities will be carried out in association with the  Kudumbashree, residents’ associations and local self-government bodies,” the DMO said.He said that special focus will be on the waste disposal in coastal villages. “Soft drinks and soda which are produced locally will be allowed to be sold only after being subject to inspection. Ward level committees have been formed to help the sanitation activities,” Dr Sudhakaran said. The government has allotted `17.4 crore for the pre-monsoon preventive measures in Ernakulam district. One hundred and thirty six panchayats and 400 municipal wards have already been allotted `10,000 each.