CUTTACK:The Orissa High Court on Thursday directed the State Government to constitute a high-level committee headed by the Chief Secretary to take urgent and effective steps to contain spread of viral hepatitis across cities and towns of the State.
A division bench of Justice I Mohanty and Justice SC Parija ordered the committee to have Secretaries of Health and Housing and Urban Development departments as members.
All urban local bodies and Collectors should extend support to the committee for effective and speedy interventions to check the outbreaks.
The ruling came on the basis of a PIL filed by a Corporator of Cuttack Municipal Corporation Giribala Behera drawing the attention of the court towards the aggravating situation in the millennium city. Cases of jaundice on Thursday rose up to 104 with more areas coming under its grip. While Jobra continued to be the epicentre, the number of patients has been increasing in localities of Thoria Sahi, Gamadiha, Nayaksahi and Patapol.
While the civic and district administration are struggling with the situation, even though a massive drive has been launched for repair of faulty pipelines as well as generating awareness among the public, the bench directed the Government to monitor and provide all assistance to control the situation.
The Health Secretary has also been asked to submit a report on actions taken as well as status of jaundice outbreaks in the State after two weeks.