Orissa HC orders for panel chaired by Chief Secretary to monitor jaundice

CUTTACK: Orissa High Court has directed the state government to form a high-level committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to monitor the situation arising out of the spread of jaundice in the state.

A bench of justices Indrajit Mahanti and Subash Chandra Parija, taking up a petition filed by Cuttack city civic body corporator Giribala Behera, also asked the state government to include the officials of the jaundice-affected civic body and the state urban and health secretaries in the Committee for taking appropriate measures to check the menace.

Behera in her petition had alleged that due to improper management of drinking water facilities, jaundice had affected over hundred people in the state.

The High Court in its order yesterday asked the Cuttack Municipal Corporation to immediately relocate the drinking water pipelines.

The civic body was also asked to take immediate steps to provide clean drinking water and replace the damaged pipelines.