Amaravati, February 26: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has instructed officials to ramp up surveillance of urban water supply systems statewide. The move follows scattered reports of gastroenteritis and diarrhoeal illnesses in some urban areas, prompting urgent action to safeguard residents.
In a high-level review, the Chief Minister stressed that safe drinking water is a core public service. He called for close teamwork among the Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Public Health Engineering, Health departments, and district teams.
Key steps include more field inspections, urgent fixes for leaking pipelines, safeguards for at-risk sections, stronger chlorination, drain desilting, and boosted mosquito control.
Municipal Commissioners must personally ensure supplies meet Bureau of Indian Standards through regular testing and residual chlorine checks. If contamination is suspected, supplies stop immediately and safe alternatives are provided. Weekly progress reports are mandatory, with strong action promised for any negligence.
